With an approach that stresses the fundamental solid state behaviour of minerals, and with emphasis on both theory and experiment, this 1995 text surveys the physics and chemistry of earth materials. It starts with a systematic tour of crystal chemistry of both simple and complex structures (with completely new structural drawings) and discusses how structural and thermodynamic information is obtained experimentally. The quantitative concepts of chemical bonding - band theory, molecular orbit and ionic models - are reviewed. The book goes on to discuss physical properties and to relate microscopic features to macroscopic thermodynamic behaviour. The book then discusses high pressure phase transitions, amorphous materials and solid state reactions, and concludes with a look at the interface between mineral physics and materials science. Highly illustrated throughout, this book fills the gap between undergraduate texts and specialised review volumes, for students in earth sciences and materials science.

The vibrations of atoms inside crystals - lattice dynamics - is basic to many fields of study in the solid-state and mineral sciences. Lattice dynamics is becoming increasingly important for work on mineral stability. This book provides a self-contained text that introduces the subject from a basic level and then takes the reader through real applications of the theory. The book is aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduate students and research workers in the earth and solid-state sciences who need to incorporate lattice dynamic treatments into their work. Applications include the use of lattice dynamics instabilities to study the origin of phase transitions in crystals and the use of vibrational spectra to obtain information about inter-atomic forces.

The second edition of this classic book provides an updated look at crystal field theory - one of the simplest models of chemical bonding - and its applications. Crystal field theory provides a link between the visible region spectra and thermodynamic properties of numerous rock-forming minerals and gems that contain the elements iron, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel or copper. These elements are major constituents of terrestrial planets and significantly influence their geochemical and geophysical properties. A unique perspective of the second edition is that it highlights the properties of minerals that make them compounds of interest to solid-state chemists and physicists as well as to all earth and planetary scientists. This book will be useful as a textbook for advanced students as well as a valuable reference work for all research workers interested in this subject.

Of the many techniques that have been applied to the study of crystal defects, none has contributed more to our understanding of their nature and influence on the physical and chemical properties of crystalline materials than transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM is now used extensively by an increasing number of earth scientists for direct observation of defect microstructures in minerals and rocks. Transmission Electron Microscopy of Minerals and Rocks is an introduction to the principles of the technique written specifically for geologists and mineralogists. The first part of the book deals with the essential physics of the transmission electron microscope and presents the basic theoretical background required for the interpretation of images and electron diffraction patterns. A knowledge of elementary crystallography is assumed, and some familiarity with optics and electromagnetic theory is helpful but not essential. The final chapters are concerned with specific applications of TEM in mineralogy and deal with such topics as planar defects, intergrowths, radiation-induced defects, dislocations and deformation-induced microstructures.

This textbook describes the fundamental principles of structural phase transitions in materials in an easily understandable form, suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students. Ferroelasticity, twinning and related microstructures are described. Landau-type theories of phase transitions are introduced, together with details of elastic and specific heat anomalies, the formation of spontaneous strain, and the generation of solitary waves at temperatures close to the transition point. Many materials used in industry are crystals. These crystals often show anomalies such as sudden softening or embrittlement at certain temperatures; if controlled, such behaviour can be extremely useful for manufacturing and high technology applications. This is one of the first books to describe the recently determined physical origins of such behaviour, and provides an insight into the important thermodynamic principles and microstructural properties involved.