Minerals

Rocks comprise minerals. In order to understand the paragenesis of a rock, be it igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic, we must identify its constituent minerals. The aim of this collection is to detail the structural, physical and optical properties of a selection of common rock-forming minerals, which will aid the identification of minerals in the field and in the laboratory.

This collection is restricted, but includes the range of minerals with which first year students should be familiar. For a comprehensive guide to minerals (and more detailed descriptions of minerals within this collection) please consult “The rock-forming minerals” by Deer, Howie and Zussman (DHZ).