The complete encyclopedia of minerals : description of over 600 minerals from around the world

302 Pages·2001·28.66 MB·English

by  Milan Novak

T HE C O M P L E TE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
M I N E R A LS
Description of over 600 Minerals
from around the world
PETR lli®E£SMILAN NOVAK,
T HE C O M P L E TE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
MINERALS
T HE C O M P L E TE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
MINERALS
T HE C O M P L E TE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
MINERALS
T HE C O M P L E TE
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
MINERALS
Description of over 600 Minerals from around the world
PETR KORBEL & MILAN NOVAK
BOOKS*
Explanation of the abbreviations used in the book
c - color
s - streak
L - luster
D - diaphaneity
DE - density
H - hardness
CL - cleavage
F - fracture
M - morphology
LU - luminescence
R - remark
X - crystal
XX - crystals
In the figure captions, the bigger dimension is
always mentioned
Scale of the frequency of the occurrence
• - very rare
• • - rare"
• • • - uncommon
• • • • . abundant
• • • • • - common
© 1999 Rebo International b.v., Lissc. the Netherlands
©2001 Grange Books PLC, United kingdom
Text: Petr Korbel, Milan Novak
Fptografie: Fotobanka Granit (100), Petr Korbel (220),
Geza Kulcsar (16), Jeffry A. Scovil (331), Sandor Szakall (34)
Production and layout: Granit Ltd., Praha
ISBN 1 84013 404 6
All rights reserved.
Copying of the entire book as well as of its parts in any way is forbidden
by law without prior written consent of the publisher.
Contents
Introduction 7
1. Elements 9
2. Sulphides 19
3. Halides 67
4. Oxides 75
5. Carbonates 113
6. Borates 131
7. Sulfates 137
8. Phosphates 155
9. Silicates 193
10. Organic compounds 281
11. Rocks, meteorites and tektites 285
Recommended literature 291
Index 293

Introduction
The ever increasing number of publications about meteorites); 2. sedimentary, when a mineral
minerals reflects a growing interest in nature. crystallizes during a process of diagenesis or from
Most of those publications though only deal with a hydrous solutions under normal temperature
few dozen of the most common minerals or (clastic, organic and chemical sedimentary rocks);
gemstones. This book fills the gap by also 3. mctamorphic, when a mineral crystallizes
featuring less common and rare minerals. The during mctamorphic processes in a solid state at a
authors describe over 600 mineral species and wide range of temperature and pressure (it
varieties, illustrated with about 750 color includes regionally and contact metamorphosed
photographs. In choosing illustrations of particular rocks and skarns); 4. hydrothermal, when minerals
minerals, acsthctic criteria such as size of crystal crystallize from aqueous solutions and fluids
and color played a role in addition to their under high to low temperatures (it includes ore and
importance and distribution in nature. This book the Alpine-type veins, cavities in volcanic rocks,
includes some rare minerals, known only from one minerals and rocks, hydrothermally altered under
locality, because they form very attractive crystals high temperature, e.g. greisens).
or aggregates. There are minerals known to Secondary minerals are divided into following
humankind since prehistoric times such as quartz groups: 1. oxidation, when minerals result from
and gold, but also minerals first described quite the oxidation (weathering) of the primary minerals
recently like rossmanite. The photographs show in the oxidation zone of ore deposits and other
well-formed and colorful crystals but many rocks (it includes the origin of malachite and
aggregates, which are more common in nature, are azurite during the chalcopyrite oxidation, also the
also included. The minerals in the book are listed origin of secondary phosphates in granitic
according to the mineralogical system of Hugo pegmatites during the oxidation of primary
Strunz, in his book Mineralogische Tabellen in phosphates); 2. cementation, when minerals result
1978. The chemical formulae of individual from the reduction of the primary minerals (the
minerals follow the form of Glossary of Mineral origin of native copper and native silver under the
Species 1995 by M. Fleischer and J.A. Mandarine. reduction conditions in the cementation zone of
The information is complemented in both cases ore deposits). This classification is very much
with the latest knowledge from scientific simplified of course, because in many cases we
literature, such as new nomenclature of cannot readily determine a specific origin of a
amphiboles, micas and zeolites. particular mineral. This relates to minerals that
The mineral descriptions cover the basic physical crystallize under conditions which approximately
and chemical data, including chemical formula represent a transition between separate phases of
and crystal system. The data provided correspond the origin, such as the magmatic or hydrothermal
mainly to the end-members. The less common origins of elbaite in the pegmatite cavities; the
valence of the chemical elements is marked in the mctamorphic or hydrothermal origins of grossular
chemical formula (Fc5. Mil", As", Mn4, Pb"). in skarns; the magmatic or mctamorphic origins of
Where an element features in both valences in the cordierite in migmatites; and the hydrothermal or
mineral, they are both marked (e.g. ilvaite, secondary origins of some phosphates in granitic
braunite). pegmatites etc.
The origin of individual minerals is described in With the localities for individual minerals we have
detail. We chose for a relatively simplified scheme tried to list the most important worldwide
because the normal complexity cannot be localities regardless of their recent production but
described here in detail. Minerals can be we have also included recent discoveries since
distinguished as either primary (resulting directly these may produce important mineral specimens.
from a solidifying of magma, crystallizing of an Where a mineral has an important use this is listed
aqueous solution or mctamorphism - re- at the end of mineral description. We would like to
crystallization in a solid state) and secondary acknowledge all who contributed in any way to the
(resulting from alteration of the original mineral, production of this book, particularly those private
e.g. during its oxidation or reduction under low collectors and institutions which loaned minerals
temperature and pressure close to the surface of for photography. We hope those fascinated in the
the Earth). Primary minerals are divided into world of minerals and of nature will find this book
following groups: 1. magmatic, when a mineral a fascinating source of information.
crystallizes directly from a melt (it includes This book is dedicated to the memory of Dr.
magmatic and effusive igneous rocks, including Jaroslav "venek, who was of extraordinary
granitic and alkaline syenite pegmatites and influence to several generations of Czech and
Slovak mineralogists and mineral collectors with
his enthusiasm for mineralogy and attitude to life.
Marcasite. 100 mm. Misburg. Germany
7