In this post, we will see the book Mystery of Mineralogy by B. I. Srebrodolsky. This is a book in the Science for Everyone series.
About the book
This book deals with the mysteries of geology. The basic concepts about solid mineral materials, symmetry and its elements, single crystals, intergrowths and twins, and habitual and simple crystallographic forms, which manifest themselves both in the outward appearance and in the external atomic structure of minerals are presented in this book.
This book is the result of many years of the author’s studies on an interesting mineral assemblage in sulfate-carbonate rocks. The problems, connected with the specifics of calcium sulfate conversion to sulfur and calcite, are discussed in the book. (from the back cover)
Mineralogy is a fundamental science; concepts about the origin of mineral deposits can be based solely on the information provided by this science. This book is the result of many years of the author’s studies on an interesting mineral assemblage in sulfate- carbonate rocks. It is intended for geologists, students, and lovers of stones. The basic concepts about solid mineral materials, symmetry and its elements, single crystals, intergrowths and twins, and habitual and simple crystallographic forms, which manifest themselves both in the outward appearance and in the internal atomic structure of minerals, are presented in this book.
The reader is acquainted with the marble onyx secret and with the secrecy of Egyptian pyramids long- living. It is intended for geologists, students, and lovers of stones. (from the Preface)
The book was translated from the Russian by V. F. Agranat and was published by Mir in 1989.
Many, many thanks to Angelika (a Russian booklover!) for providing the raw scans of this and Modern Geology (which we will see in the next post) in SFE series.
Contents
Preface 5
Why Are the Egyptian Pyramids So Long-Lived? 10
Gypsum and Anhydrite 10
Barite 25
Resistance of Stone to Weather 37
The World of Crystals 45
The Mystery of Onyx Marble 57
Calcite 57
Ornamental Calcite 72
A Mineral of Vital Importance 85
Salt Domes 91
A Mineral of the Future 111
Cryptocrystalline Sulphur 126
Coarse-Crystalline Sulphur 133
Microbiological Sulphur Accumulation 164
Contaminating Elements in Sulphur 167
Sulphur Isotopy 170
Sulphur As a Mercury Mineral Settler 173
Sulphur Caves 179
Ubiquitous and Diverse 180
Bluish Quartz 185
Chalcedony 186
Quartzine 190
Precious Opal 192
The Mystery of Melanophlogite 196
The World of Minute Minerals 204
Clay Minerals from Sulphur Deposits 214
Clay Minerals Derived from Underwater Weathering 225
Conclusion 230
Bibliography 233
Subject Index 236
Mir Books 