Earth Materials

by Kevin Hefferan (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point); John O'Brien (New Jersey City University)

• ISBN13: 9781444319644
• ISBN10: 1444319647
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Minerals and rocks form the foundation of geologic studies. Excellent textbooks currently exist in mineralogy, igneous petrology, sedimentary petrology and metamorphic petrology. It is not our intention to compete with these textbooks. However, many universities have compressed separate mineralogy and petrology courses into a one- or two-semester Earth Materials course. Presently, no textbook adequately addresses the needs of an Earth Materials course. We have developed a textbook that encompasses the study of minerals, rocks as well as soil and water. This Earth Materials textbook is geared towards a one- or two-semester Earth Materials course, a combined mineralogy and petrology course, and can also be used by environmental scientists, engineering geologists, planners and laypersons interested in learning about minerals, rocks, soil and water in a comprehensive framework. We have attempted to create a readable, well illustrated textbook that is comprehensible and that weaves different disciplines into one cohesive fabric.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Earth materials and the geosphere

Atoms, elements, bonds and coordination polyhedra

Atomic substitution, phase diagrams and isotopes

Crystallography

Mineral properties and rock-forming minerals

Optical identification of minerals

Classification of igneous rocks

Magma and intrusive structures

Volcanic features and landforms

Igneous rock associations

The sedimentary cycle: erosion, transportation, deposition and sedimentary structures

Weathering, sediment production and soils

Detrital sediments and sedimentary rocks

Biochemical sedimentary rocks

Metamorphism

Metamorphism: stress, deformation and structures

Texture and classification of metamorphic rocks

Metamorphic zones, facies and facies series

Mineral resources and hazards

References

Index

Periodic table

List of elements

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