The work develops and assesses a new calibration of the geologic time scale employing a new database. The new scale is summarized on the book covers and on a wall chart to be published separately. The work has been coordinated in detail throughout; nevertheless each chapter can stand on its own.
It describes all of the over 3700 recognized mineral species. New features include emphasis on mineral structure, presenting descriptions of all the important species. New specially commissioned structure diagrams describe all the important mineral groups. All homologous species are classified and all polymorphic forms identified. Compact and convenient in one volume, it offers exceptional coverage on where minerals can be found and accurate, up-to-date references.
This companion to Pearson's handbook of crystallographic data for intermetallic phases, 2d ed. (ASM International, 1991) presents the structure type for most of the compounds in Pearson's handbook in graphic detail. Each structure type is represented in the following way: detailed crystallographic
A Geologic Time Scale 1989 by 
Chemical Elements in the Environment by 
Dana's New Mineralogy by 
