Introduction to Mineralogy

Minerals are the building blocks of Earth, and for all intents and purposes Earth Sciences involve minerals in one way or another. Minerals constitute a decent amount of objects found in nature and used by the general public, including the soils that allow for agriculture and the springs that constitute underground water supplies. Minerals play a vital role in the sustenance of humans. One of mankind’s key discoveries was the recognition of different rocks and minerals, and their use as indicated by their properties. With the advancement of mining, it became significant for individuals to recognize different minerals, and evidence on mineral use and properties can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as: Greece, Rome, Persia, and Arabia. Extensive profiling of minerals began in the late eighteenth century, with the commencement of the Berzelius classification of the "anionic" minerals. The popularity of precious minerals like gold further had a major impact on Mineralogy. This volume discusses the works of W.L. Bragg, an atom scientist, which form the basis for our current understanding of mineral science and properties, and the contribution of V.M. Goldschmidt that provided a theoretical context for the behavior of elements in geochemical processes.