Geology and Mineralogy

Why are geology and mineralogy discussed in a book on ceramics The main reason is the fact that nature shows us which materials might be suitable ceramic materials for various applications. Over the past millions of years nature has produced an enormous variety of rocks and minerals with numerous properties. Researching these products has taught us how nature shaped them and what their structure are like. Nowadays these production processes can be imitated in the laboratory, very often within a short period of time. In addition, most ceramic raw materials are obtained from nature and sometimes altered chemically or physically in the laboratory. This means that the ceramicist must have a good knowledge of these raw materials. 

Most collectors limit themselves to the so-called micromount, pieces of mineral with dimen-sions of at most a few centimetres and they classify their collection as described in paragraph 7.3. Samples are identified by making use of their properties, most of which can easily be demonstrated. In addition, you can use information obtained with the help of stereo microscopy or of catalogues with photographs. 

Based on one or more of these properties (table 7.1) a specialized collection can be built up. 

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In Chapter 2, a geochemical, geological and mineralogical summary of active subaerial and submarine back-arc basin hydrothermal systems and mineralizations is given. The characteristic features of above-fossil and active subaerial and submarine hydrothermal systems are compared with fossil hydrothermal systems (epithermal vein-type and Kuroko deposits), and the causes for the differences in the characteristic features are considered. Characteristic features of Paleozoic-Mesozoic volcanogenic stratiform Cu deposits (Besshi-type deposits) are compared with those of midoceanic ridge deposits and Kuroko deposits. 

Kwong, Y.T.J. 1993. Prediction and prevention of acid rock drainage from a geological and mineralogical perspective. MEND Report 1.32.1 CANMET, Ottawa, 47 p. 

In 1964 I embarked on my chemistry studies. Apparently the subjects inorganic chemistry and crystallography had most appeal for me during my education, because some years later I became interested in geology and mineralogy as a hobby. The earlier mentioned specialities stood me in good stead here (or were they the cause of my interest ) and my hobby developed into a large collection of silicate minerals. 

Geology and Mineralogy Na[AlSi3OJ albite - Ca[Al2Si2Os] anorthite... 

Lawrence, L.J., Smith-Munro, V., Ramsden, A.R. et al. (1999) Geology and mineralogy of the Lorena gold mine, Cloncurry District, northwest Queensland. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 132(1-2), 29-35. 

These thin-film techniques, which usually entail a small, focussed electron beam ( 20-50nm diameter) and an EDS detector for the measurement of secondary X-rays, have been applied to many mineralogical problems with considerable success. Many areas of geology and mineralogy, both terrestrial and extraterrestrial, can benefit from the analytical power of the modern-day AEM because the fundamental relationships between microchemistry and bulk physical properties can be effectively explored. 

That the atomic weight of uranium lead is extremely variable has already been shown. In order to interpret this variability its sources must be studied both geologically and mineralogically. On the geologic side of the question the uranium ore can be divided in to three principal classes, which are sharply distinct. The definitely crystallized varieties of uraninite occur in coarse pegmatites, associated with feldspar, quartz, mica, beryl, and other minor accessories. The massive pitchblende is found in metalliferous veins, together with sulphide ores of copper, lead, iron, zinc, and so forth. As for camotite, that is a secondary mineral, found commonly as an incrustation on sandstone, and often, also upon fossil wood. There may be other modes of occurrence, but these are the most distinctive. 

Geological and Mineralogical Survey, Map-47, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 1979, 2 sheets. 

HIROMICHI KIUCHI received his BS in Geology and Mineralogy at Hokkaido University in 1963. Since that time he has been a research associate of nonferrous extractive metallurgy in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at the university. 

Vincent, E. A. (1994). Geology and Mineralogy at Oxford 1860-1986 History and Reminiscences. The Author, Oxford. 

The laws of radioactive decay are the basis of chronology by nuclear methods. From the variation of the number of atoms with time due to radioactive decay, time differences can be calculated rather exactly. This possibility was realized quite soon after the elucidation of the natural decay series of uranium and thorium. Rutherford was the first to stress the possibility of determining the age of uranium minerals from the amount of helium formed by radioactive decay. Dating by nuclear methods is applied with great success in many fields of science, but mainly in archaeology, geology and mineralogy, and various kinds of chronometers are available. 

Dokuchaev V. V. (1880) Protocol of the meeting of the branch of geology and mineralogy of the St. Petersburg Society of Naturalists. Trans. St. Petersburg Soc. Nat. XII, 65-97. (Translated by the Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley). 

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