Descriptive Mineralogy, Composition, Crystallization and Structure

Descriptive Mineralogy should include first of all a description of the crystallographic, general physical and chemical characters of each mineral species, and should further give an account of its mode of occurrence and characteristic associations. The localities at which a mineral occurs in notable amount or quality should also be mentioned. In the case of minerals possessing an economic value, a brief statement of their uses is of interest. The order in which these various items are under each mineral in this Section is as follows:

1. Chemical Composition
2. Crystallization
3. Structure
4. General Physical Properties
5. Tests,
6. Occurrence
7. Use

Descriptive Mineralogy should also point out the chemical and physical relationships existing between the different mineral species. It will be noted that many minerals fall into definite groups, the members of which have chemical and crystallographic features in common. The most scientific classification of minerals recognizes these facts and places the minerals having analogous chemical compositions together, and further groups them according to crystallographic and physical similarities. Short paragraphs will be found in various parts of this. Section which explain more fully these relationships. These prominent chemical groups of this classification and the order in which they are treated are given below:

1. Native Elements
2. Sulphides, etc
3. Sulphasenites, etc
4. Chlorides, etc
5. Oxides
6. Carbonates
7. Silicates, Titanates
8. Niobates, Tantalates
9. Phosphates, etc
10. Borates
11. Urinates
12. Sulphates, etc
13. Tungstates, Molybdates.

At the end of the matter descriptive of individual species will be found small sections devoted to (a) Minerals of economic importance arranged according to the chief elements they contain; (b) Occurrence and association of minerals; (c) Table of minerals arranged according to the systems of crystallization.