Volume 67 of Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry covers the Crystal Chemistry, Occurrence, and Health Issues of Amphiboles. Contents: Amphiboles: Crystal Chemistry Classification of the Amphiboles New Amphibole Compositions: Natural and Synthetic Long-Range Order in Amphiboles Short-Range Order in Amphiboles Non-Ambient in situ Studies of Amphiboles The Synthesis and Stability of Some End-Member Amphiboles The Significance of the Reaction Path in Synthesizing Single-Phase Amphibole of Defined Composition Amphiboles in the Igneous Environment Metamorphic Amphiboles: Composition and Coexistence Trace-Element Partitioning Between Amphibole and Silicate Melt Amphiboles: Environmental and Health Concerns Amphiboles: Historical Perspective

An Introduction to the Study of Mineralogy is a collection of papers that can be easily understood by a wide variety of readers, whether they wish to use it in their work, or simply to extend their knowledge. It is unique in that it presents a broad view of the mineralogy field. The book is intended for chemists, physicists, engineers, and the students of geology, geophysics, and soil science, but it will also be invaluable to the more advanced students of mineralogy who are looking for a concise revision guide.

Looking mainly at the amphiboles, this volume has added sections on deerite, howieite and multiple-chain silicates (biopyriboles). This edition includes results of recent research into amphiboles. Each chapter is headed by a brief tabulation of mineral data and a sketch showing optical orientation. Diagrams of the crystal structures are presented and followed by discussion of the structural features, making use of data from spectroscopic and diffraction experiments. The chemical sections include over 550 analyses from which structural formulae have been calculated, illustrating the range of chemical and paragenetic variation exhibited by each mineral. There are results of P-T experiments, thermochemical and computer modelling techniques. The principal modes of occurrence are described in the paragenesis sections emphasizing correlations with chemistry.

Most of Volume 9A of Reviews in Mineralogy treats amphiboles and other hydrous pyriboles as isolated systems. It reviews the structural complexity and resulting chemical variability and diversity of petrologic behavior of amphiboles, whereby Volume 9A contains a hefty dose of petrology and in contrast, Volume 9B is dedicated more to an exploration of the social life of amphiboles and the amphibole personality in real rocks and in the experimental petrology laboratory. This volume was prepared in conjunction with the Mineralogical Society of America Short Course on Amphiboles and Other Hydrous Pyriboles, Fall, 1981.