System of Mineralogy

An important text on the Wernerian interpretation of mineralogy by the foremost Scottish naturalist, one of Darwin's teachers.

Robert Jameson (Author)

9781108029742, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 June 2011

512 pages, 3 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.65 kg

Robert Jameson (1774–1854) was a renowned geologist who held the chair of natural history at Edinburgh from 1804 until his death. A pupil of Gottlob Werner at Freiberg, he was in turn one of Charles Darwin's teachers. Originally a follower of Werner's influential theory of Neptunism to explain the formation of the earth's crust, and an opponent of Hutton and Playfair, he was later won over by the idea that the earth was formed by natural processes over geological time. He was a controversial writer, accused of bias towards those who shared his Wernerian sympathies such as Cuvier, while attacking Playfair, Hutton and Lyell. He built up an enormous collection of geological specimens, which provided the evidence for his System of Mineralogy, first published in 1808 and here reprinted from the second edition of 1816. Volume 2 continues 'earthy minerals' and covers saline and inflammable minerals, including coals.

Part I (continued). Class I: Earthy Minerals: 17. Hornblende family
18. Chrysolite family
19. Basalt family
20. Dolomite family
21. Limestone family
22. Apatite family
23. Fluor family
24. Gypsum family
25. Boracite family
26. Baryte family
27. Hallite family
Part II. Class II: Saline Minerals: 1. Earthy salts
2. Alkaline salts
3. Metallic salts
Part III. Class III: Inflammable Minerals: 1. Sulphur family
2. Bituminous family
3. Graphite family
4. Resin family
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Earth sciences [RB]