This report concerns work done on behalf of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and is published with the permission of the Commission.

Volume 5A of this second edition of Rock-Forming Minerals focuses on oxides, hydroxides and sulphides. Since the publication of the first edition, in 1962, there has been an enormous increase in the literature devoted to these minerals. This new edition, greatly expanded and rewritten, covers aspects that include crystal structures, chemical compositions, electronic structures, phase relations, thermochemistry, mineral surface structure and reactivity, physical properties, distinguishing features and parageneses (including stable isotope data).