Crystal Identification with the Polarizing Microscope (Paperback)

R.E. Stoiber

ISBN 10: 0412048310 / ISBN 13: 9780412048319

Published by Chapman and Hall, London, 1994

Paperback. The book reviews optical theory and methodology, with an emphasis on dispersion methods. The contents cover asbestos identification and include original methods developed by Morse. Some of the simpler measurements of optical mineralogy are so precise and powerful that they provide all a beginning student needs. Very little training and almost no theory are needed to achieve these skills. But there inevitably comes a time when theory is needed, either to get on with the art, or simply to reconstruct from first principles what is going on, when rote memory fails. "Crystal Identification with the Polarizing Microscope" provides both the methods and the theoretical background for practitioners at all levels of experience. It should serve the needs of industrial and forensic scientists, as well as petrographers who deal with rocks and upper-level and graduate students. This book should be of interest to industrial and forensic scientists; petrographers; and upper-level and postgraduate mineralogists. Describes the theory and practice of optical mineralogy in terms useful to practitioners from the beginning student to the professional in field and laboratory geology and industrial and environmental mineralogy. This book offers access to techniques of optical crystal identification. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780412048319

Synopsis:

Some of the simpler measurements of optical mineralogy are so precise and powerful that they give satisfaction to beginning students. Not long after mastering the strike and dip of rock surfaces with the Brunton compass, many geology students are able to determine precisely the identity of quartz, or the anorthite content of plagioclase, or the magne­ sium ratio of pyroxene with the polarizing or petrographic microscope, by means of measuring refractive index to better than one part in a thousand. Very little training and almost no theory are needed to achieve these skills. But there inevitably comes a time when theory is needed, either to get on with the art, or simply to reconstruct from first principles what is going on, when rote memory fails. In this book we hope to provide both the rote methods and the theoretical background for practitioners at all levels of experience. We draw from several careers-ours, our colleagues', and our students' -in teaching the subject at various levels of sophistication. Our book is intended to serve the needs of industrial and forensic scientists as well as petrogra­ phers who deal with rocks. Much of our treatment is based on new research, both in matters of presentation and in the optical determination of minerals and other materials.

Review: Crystal Identification with the Polarizing Microscope is a wonderful, user-friendly book. The authors state that their emphasis is practical but with enough theory to make rigorous understanding possible.....book is suitable over the entire range from an undergraduate text to a guide for advanced graduate students. The two strong points of the book are that it conveys the vast and varied experience of its authors, and that it uses immersion techniques to teach theory - The Canadian Mineralogist, vol.33; Crystal Identification with the Polarizing Microscope is a wonderful, user-friendly book. The authors state that their emphasis is practical but with enough theory to make rigorous understanding possible.....book is suitable over the entire range from an undergraduate text to a guide for advanced graduate students. The two strong points of the book are that it conveys the vast and varied experience of its authors, and that it uses immersion techniques to teach theory - The Canadian Mineralogist, vol.33; Crystal Identification with the Polarizing Microscope is a wonderful, user-friendly book. The authors state that their emphasis is practical but with enough theory to make rigorous understanding possible.....book is suitable over the entire range from an undergraduate text to a guide for advanced graduate students. The two strong points of the book are that it conveys the vast and varied experience of its authors, and that it uses immersion techniques to teach theory - The Canadian Mineralogist, vol.33; ...I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover, probably because it presents optical mineralogy at a much more applied level than usual - American Mineralogist; ...I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover, probably because it presents optical mineralogy at a much more applied level than usual - American Mineralogist

Bibliographic Details

Title: Crystal Identification with the Polarizing ...
Publisher: Chapman and Hall, London
Publication Date: 1994
Binding: Paperback
Condition: new