Best mineralogy books according to redditors

I'm a professional mineralogist and I have that book at my desk, It's a pretty helpful guide sometimes. I also recommend Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks & Minerals and Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals

This is the mineral "bible" that I used during my degree. I had the second edition, but a new one came out a couple of years ago. I think it's got pictures now. Either way, it's got absolutely everything you need in it.

Publisher Link - best for a summary of what's in the book. I think it's also cheaper from there directly too.

Amazon Link

Also Ore Deposit Geology by Ridley

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1107022223/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_r88KBb0D42R5X


It's good for basics. It's not terribly long or overly technical but it's thorough and covers most type of deposits. And it won't break the bank.

I recommend you to steer clear of this book. That was the required text for my Mineralogy course and I found the chapters contained an extreme amount of unnecessary material that clouded that actual learning process.

There are definitely a lot of online resources to help supplement lecture material. I often recommend the website of a professor named Stephen Nelson from Tulane University. He has uploaded all of his lecture material in amazingly concise and clear PDF's. I would have to give so much credit to this professor for my knowledge of Mineralogy.

Mineralogy is a hard course, but if you take the time (it sounds like you will) to get the major minerals down and understand the phase rule and phase diagrams, it really isn't that bad. The hardest part for me was the crystal lattice section, but like anything, it just took practice.

For lab, I also checked out a book from the library on Minerals in Thin Section. After reading through that book, it became so much easier to distinguish between minerals. Also this website is amazing for optical mineralogy.

PS: I'm sure no one would mind if you stopped by the Mineralogy lab next semester and started working with the microscopes!

Deer, Howie and Zussman - the fathers of modern petrography! This is the petrography book, so if you want to learn this will help.

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Rock-Forming-Minerals-2nd-Edition/dp/0582300940/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333687591&sr=8-1

Also, this is a great optical mineralogy book that is like 80 years old, but is still suuuuper relevant and awesome.

http://www.amazon.com/Optical-Mineralogy-Paul-Francis-Kerr/dp/0070342180/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333687673&sr=1-2

You request 2nd Edition, what about the 3rd Editon??

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0190618353

I used Mineralogy by Dexter Perkins (who also happened to be my professor). After graduation I bought an updated edition just to brush up on some stuff. Lots of optical information, and good stuff on phase diagrams and reaction chemistry.

Rockhounding New England: A Guide To 100 Of The Region's Best Rockhounding Sites (Rockhounding Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0762783656/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_6X26wb5VVT2AP

Rockhounding New York: A Guide To The State's Best Rockhounding Sites (Rockhounding Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0762779004/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_KY26wbYF584VV

Roadside Geology of New York (Roadside Geology Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0878421807/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_dZ26wbRZZCT7B

The Collector's Guide to the Minerals of New York State (Schiffer Earth Science Monograph) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764343343/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_DZ26wbH96TSC2

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I've found rockhounding books usually have good intros and brief explanations which is good for beginners.

I have this book and it is awesome:
http://www.amazon.com/Worldwide-Equivalent-Steels-Materials-Series/dp/0871708221

One thing to do is look at who has written authoritative books on the topic. For example, Dr. John Ridley just came out with a very well respected new book called Ore Deposit Geology. He teaches at Colorado State University.

I knew you would have some mega response to that like the scholar that you are. Have you ever heard of a tube agate? Or an eye agate? A simple google search will educate you, but I have the feeling in some way you will continue to believe what you want to believe to make yourself feel better. If you can't tell what it is based on the picture, then maybe sit out the comment section or say "hey thats neat, i don't know what that is." and carnelian agate found in MN...cmon guy. Blue agate? Just give it up, they come in more colors than 3 basic versions. There are gray lake superior agates, white ones, yellow ones, yes even RED ones. I am sorry that they came in those colors and some of them tricked you.

In an effort to resolve this bizarre argument you conjured I am going to drop some links to books about Lake Superior Agates. Your local library is a good way to read about this stuff for free as well.


https://www.amazon.com/This-Agate-Illustrated-Superiors-Michigan/dp/0970734204/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1467952203&sr=8-16&keywords=lake+superior+agate

https://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Agates-Superiors-Banded-Gemstone/dp/0979200695/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1467952203&sr=8-12&keywords=lake+superior+agate


https://www.amazon.com/Storied-Agate-Unique-Superior-Agates/dp/1591933099/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1467952203&sr=8-7&keywords=lake+superior+agate

https://www.amazon.com/Superior-Agates-Minerals-Identification-Guides/dp/1591932823/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467952203&sr=8-4&keywords=lake+superior+agate


https://www.amazon.com/Agate-Hunting-Made-Easy-Superior/dp/1591933269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467952203&sr=8-1&keywords=lake+superior+agate


https://www.amazon.com/Agates-Lake-Superior-Stunning-Varieties/dp/159193303X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1467952203&sr=8-3&keywords=lake+superior+agate