Translated from the Russian byV. AGOLTranslation editorA. GUREVICHMineralogy is one of the geological sciences concerned with the study of the earth’s crust. The term literally means the science of minerals and embraces all aspects of minerals including their genesis. The word mineral comes from “minera”, which once meant an ore specimen, which shows that it dates back to the beginnings of mining.This book introduces the reader to various types of minerals and their classification, their composition, their physical and chemical properties.