Nesse‘s treatment of optical mineralogy is widely considered the gold standard. Reviewers consistently praise the book‘s optical data as hands‑down the best reference available. Unlike many texts that bury optical properties in appendices, Nesse integrates them directly into each mineral description, making thin‑section identification far more intuitive. The 4th edition‘s online resource package includes over 400 high‑resolution color images of minerals in plane‑polarized light (PPL) and cross‑polarized light (XPL), each accompanied by detailed captions explaining every optical feature.
| | Nesse | Klein (Manual of Mineral Science) | |------------|-----------|---------------------------------------| | Optical Mineralogy | Excellent, integrated into mineral descriptions; widely considered superior | Adequate but often less integrated | | Crystal Chemistry | Thorough, with excellent Pauling‘s Rules coverage | Also strong, comparable depth | | Visuals | High‑quality line drawings and photomicrographs | Good, but some editions have fewer color images | | Writing Style | Clear, direct, approachable | More formal and “encyclopedic” | | Price | Moderate ($80–130) | Slightly higher ($100–150) | | Recent Edition | 4th edition (2023) | 23rd edition (2016 – dated) | introduction to mineralogy nesse pdf
Utilizing birefringence to determine mineral thickness and identity. The 4th edition‘s online resource package includes over
If you have a PDF of Nesse, you have a powerful resource. Do not just use it to search for answers during a lab; read the chapters on crystal systems and silicate structures. It is one of the few textbooks that can genuinely teach you the material without a professor's intervention. Do not just use it to search for
The Fourth Edition (2023/2025) builds on the classic text with significant improvements:
The book is divided into 12 chapters, which cover the following topics:
Native elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, and sulfates. Each entry provides the mineral's chemistry, crystal data, physical properties, optical properties, and geological occurrence. The Search for "Introduction to Mineralogy Nesse PDF"