An understanding of rocks and the minerals that comprise them lies at the core of every geologist's education. As more curricula combine mineralogy and petrology into a single course, Raymond and Johnson have responded with a concise introduction to the study of Earth materials. The authors have written at a level that won't intimidate students encountering fundamental concepts for the first time, yet with enough rigor that they'll be well prepared for future study. A broad approach to the subject that incorporates fluids and soils will appeal to instructors who teach engineering and environmental science students as well as future geoscientists.
Abundant illustrations reinforce all of the ideas in the text. Many images are presented in color, with additional color images available at waveland.com/Raymond-Johnson. Problems appear throughout the book, encouraging a deeper understanding for students. Helpful appendices make it easy for instructors to assign further exercises in rock and mineral identification as well as optical mineralogy and petrography.
Color images and supporting descriptions can be found
here.
"The emphasis on petrology in Raymond and Johnson makes this book suited for both mineralogy and petrology, so a student could use it for both courses. I also prefer the student price, and a multi-course use makes it even that much more affordable." — Gary Solar, Buffalo State College
1. The Context of Crustal Earth Materials
Minerals, Rocks, Fluids, and Soils / The Structure and Chemistry of Earth / Plate Tectonics / Earth Systems at and near the Surface
2. Fundamentals of Physics and Chemistry Relevant to Earth Materials
Some Concepts of Physics / Some Concepts of Chemistry / Nuclear Reactions
3. Fluids in and on the Earth
Flow of Fluids / Currents in the Oceans, Seas, and Lakes / Kinds and Sources of Fluids and Fluid-Mediated Processes in the Earth
4. Crystallization and Crystallography
Order, Disorder, Crystallinity, Nucleation, Crystal Growth, and Morphology / Solid Solution / The Properties of Symmetry / Crystal Features
5. Minerals: Their Classification and Identification in Hand Specimens
Mineral Classification / Identifying Minerals in Hand Specimens
6. Advanced Methods of Studying Minerals and Rocks
Historical Methods / Optical Mineralogy / Powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) / Other Common Analytical Methods
7. Igneous Rocks
The Origin of Magmas / Movement of Magmas / Modification of Magmas / Emplacement and Eruption of Magmas and the Formation of Igneous Structures / Crystallization and Solidification of Magmas and the Resulting Textures / Chemical Composition and Classification of Igneous Rocks / Basalts and Their Significance / Igneous Rock Associations / Some Final Comments
8. Weathering and Soils
Weathering Processes / The Structure, Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Physics of Soils / Soil Classification / Origins of Soils / Paleosols
9. Sedimentary Rocks
Erosion, Transportation, and Deposition of Sediments / Sedimentary Environments, Textures, Structures, and Compositions / Classifications of Sedimentary Rocks / The Stratigraphies of Sedimentary Environments / Diagenesis and Lithification of Sediments
10. Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Processes / Metamorphic Rocks and Their Chemical Compositions / Metamorphic Structures and Textures / Classification of Metamorphic Rocks / Metamorphic Facies, Facies Series, and Depictions of Metamorphic Mineral Assemblages / Metamorphic Sites, Associations, and Special Types
11. Resource Geology
Resources and Deposits / Classification, Types, and Origins of Resource Deposits / Other Minerals, Rocks, and Energy Resources
12. An Overview and Summary
Petrotectonic Assemblages and Plate Settings
Appendix A: Determinative Tables for Mineral Identification
Appendix B: Identifying Common Rocks in Hand Specimens
Appendix C: Optical Mineralogy and Petrography in Thin Sections
Glossary