The Ore Minerals Under the Microscope: An Optical Guide, Second Edition, is a very detailed color atlas for ore/opaque minerals (ore microscopy), with a main emphasis on name and synonyms, short descriptions, mineral groups, chemical compositions, information on major formation environments, optical data, reflection color/shade comparison with four common/standard minerals of a similar color or grey shade, and up to five high-quality photos for each mineral with scale. In addition, the atlas contains a compilation from some of the prominent publications in the field of ore microscopy presented on a list of 431 minerals. - Concise, full-color pictorial reference for scientists and geologists - Explains how to describe and identify microscopic samples of minerals - Draws material from prominent literature yielding more than 400 different minerals

"This book is a very detailed ore microscopy atlas in colour, containing observations for some 430 minerals (mostly opaques and a few gangue minerals). Its main emphasis lies on the display of the respective mineral's most important optical properties (shown in up to 5 high-quality photos for each mineral with scale). The colour plates are supplemented by brief tabulated data, such as name and synonyms, mineral group, chemical composition, major formation environment, reflection colour/shade, and reflectivity. Wherever reflectivity data were not available, the respective value was estimated on the basis of some 4 common/standard minerals of a similar colour or grey shade."--BOOK JACKET.

"The Ore Mineral Atlas contains a listing of the optical and physical properties of 53 common ore minerals. Each listing gives associated mineral information, formational environments and distinguishing characteristics. Additionally, there are four colour plates for most minerals exhibiting their common characteristics in hand specimen and under the microscope. "--pub. desc.

Provides an up-to-date introduction to the subject of ore microscopy, emphasizing the basic skills required for the study of opaque minerals in polished sections. Describes the modern ore microscope, the preparation of polished and polished-thin sections of opaque minerals and ores, and the identification of these minerals using both qualitative techniques and the quantitative methods of reflectance and microhardness measurement. Later sections discuss the interpretation of textural intergrowths of ore minerals and the determination of their paragenesis, along with the examination of coexisting minerals for determining their physio-chemical conditions of formation. Appendices contain the data necessary to identify approximately 100 of the more common ore minerals and those frequently encountered by the professional scientist.

This vivid introduction to economic geology not only describes the most important deposit types, but also the processes involved in their formation. Magmatic, hydrothermal and sedimentary processes as well as weathering and alteration are explained in the framework of plate tectonics and the history of the Earth. The chapter about fossil fuels includes unconventional deposits and the much-debated fracking. Other topics covered are exploration, mining and economic aspects like commodity prices.