Non-Silicates

Non-Silicates is the foundational reference work on rock-forming minerals without silicon-oxygen tetrahedra in their structures. The book covers the major groups of non-silicate minerals including oxides, sulfides, carbonates, phosphates and native elements. Each mineral entry contains comprehensive data on crystallography, physical properties, chemistry, occurrence and optical characteristics. The text includes detailed descriptions of mineral structures and their variations, supported by diagrams and photomicrographs. Howie integrates findings from mineralogical research spanning several decades, creating an essential resource for geologists, mineralogists and materials scientists. The systematic organization and depth of coverage make this volume a standard reference for identification and study of non-silicate minerals. This work exemplifies the rigor required in scientific classification and documentation, while highlighting the complexity and diversity of Earth's mineral kingdom.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of R A Howie's overall work: Readers consistently reference R A Howie's works, particularly "An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals," as key reference materials in mineralogy and petrology. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex mineralogical concepts - Systematic organization of mineral data - High-quality optical property descriptions - Comprehensive reference tables - Detailed crystallographic information What readers disliked: - Dense technical language for beginners - Limited diagrams in older editions - High cost of new editions - Physical weight of complete volumes On Goodreads, "An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals" averages 4.5/5 stars from 89 reviews. Academic book reviews emphasize its value as a reference text, with one reviewer noting it as "the first place to look for detailed mineral information." Amazon reviews (4.7/5 from 42 reviews) highlight its usefulness for advanced students and professionals, though several mention it may overwhelm undergraduate students. A geology student on Reddit wrote: "DHZ (Deer, Howie, Zussman) saved me during my thesis work - the optical data is unmatched."

An Introduction to Rock-Forming Minerals by W A Deer, R A Howie, J Zussman This reference text covers mineral structures, compositions, and properties with detailed diagrams and crystallographic data.

Manual of Mineralogy by Cornelis Klein, Barbara Dutrow The text presents systematic mineralogy with optical properties, identification methods, and occurrence patterns of minerals.

Atlas of Rock-Forming Minerals in Thin Section by W.S. MacKenzie and C. Guilford The book provides photomicrographs of minerals in thin sections with crystallographic and optical characteristics.

Introduction to Optical Mineralogy by William D. Nesse This reference work contains detailed optical properties of minerals with identification procedures using the petrographic microscope.

Mineralogy: Concepts and Principles by Tibor Zoltai and James H. Stout The text explains crystal chemistry, mineral structures, and physical properties of minerals with mathematical and chemical foundations.

🔷 The book is part of the prestigious "Rock-Forming Minerals" series, which has been a fundamental reference for mineralogists and geologists since its first publication in 1962. 💎 R.A. (Robert Andrew) Howie was a distinguished mineralogist at King's College, University of London, and made significant contributions to the understanding of rock-forming minerals throughout his career. 🔷 Non-silicate minerals, though less abundant than silicates in Earth's crust, include economically crucial groups like oxides, carbonates, and sulfides that are essential for mining and industry. 💎 The book provides detailed crystallographic data, optical properties, and chemical compositions of minerals, making it an invaluable resource for both researchers and students in mineralogy. 🔷 This volume covers minerals that comprise approximately 10% of Earth's crust, yet these non-silicates are responsible for much of our planet's mineral wealth and industrial resources.