Extract from Bruce Cairncross’ Pocket Guide: Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa
In 2010, Struik Nature released Bruce Cairncross’ Pocket Guide: Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa, a fascinating reference book on the rock and mineral species of southern Africa. Today we are delighted to bring you an excerpt from the book, courtesy Namibiana Buchdepot:
Southern Africa is endowed with a wealth of mineral deposits, as well as several internationally famous geological formations and world heritage sites. The region’s geological history spans an enormous time period, with some of its rocks being over 3 000 million years old. All of the three important rock types – igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary – occur here. They are composed of many different mineral species, ranging from those that are somewhat dull to those with chemical or aesthetic properties that make them useful in industry, in building or as gems or collector specimens. Currently over 4 400 mineral species are known worldwide, many of which are found in southern Africa. This book features the more common, interesting or important rock and mineral types and is intended to provide a quick and easy field reference for amateur geologists and collectors. If you wish to learn more about the distribution or characteristics of rare minerals, the bibliography lists easily accessible professional publications dealing in greater detail with the geology of southern Africa.
Book details
- Pocket Guide: Rocks and Minerals of Southern Africa by Bruce Cairncross
Book homepage
EAN: 9781770074439
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