An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals
Encyclopedia
An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals, by W A Deer
, R A Howie, and J Zussman, is a book often considered the "bible" of mineralogy
. It covers hundreds of mineral
s, with details of their structure, chemistry
, optical
and physical properties
, distinguishing features, and paragenesis
. Entries range from one or two pages for obscure minerals, to dozens of pages for important ones like feldspar
s. The first edition was published in 1966, and a substantially expanded second edition in 1992 (Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-582-30094-0). It is intended as a reference book for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is a condensed version of a multi-volume work The Rock-Forming Minerals.
The book is colloquially known simply as 'DHZ'.
William Alexander Deer
William Alexander Deer was a British geologist.He was an Honorary Fellow of St John's College and Trinity Hall Cambridge, Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology at the University of Cambridge from 1961, Master of Trinity Hall from 1966 to 1975, and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University from 1971...
, R A Howie, and J Zussman, is a book often considered the "bible" of mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
. It covers hundreds of mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s, with details of their structure, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, optical
Optical mineralogy
Optical mineralogy is the study of minerals and rocks by measuring their optical properties. Most commonly, rock and mineral samples are prepared as thin sections or grain mounts for study in the laboratory with a petrographic microscope...
and physical properties
Physical property
A physical property is any property that is measurable whose value describes a physical system's state. The changes in the physical properties of a system can be used to describe its transformations ....
, distinguishing features, and paragenesis
Paragenesis
Paragenesis is a petrologic concept meaning an equilibrium assemblage of mineral phases. It is used in studies of igneous and metamorphic rock genesis and importantly in studies of the hydrothermal deposition of ore minerals and the rock alteration associated with ore mineral deposits...
. Entries range from one or two pages for obscure minerals, to dozens of pages for important ones like feldspar
Feldspar
Feldspars are a group of rock-forming tectosilicate minerals which make up as much as 60% of the Earth's crust....
s. The first edition was published in 1966, and a substantially expanded second edition in 1992 (Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-582-30094-0). It is intended as a reference book for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is a condensed version of a multi-volume work The Rock-Forming Minerals.
The book is colloquially known simply as 'DHZ'.