by L. L. Babcock
The following document is a working list of 12 quartz references from my personal library, which will be expanded and updated as time permits. Each reference is presented in the standard format employed in the QUARTZ Archive. In addition, if applicable, the number of indexed page references, short notes, author, title and/or page numbers of specific sections on quartz are cited in parentheses at the end of each formal reference. These 12 references are arranged from general to specific and very technical, top to bottom, rather than alphabetically by author. More specifically, this list consists of three broad categories, which also represent successive thirds of the list. Here are brief descriptions of the contents of these references, by thirds, in order to assist all serious students of 'the quartz', regardless of their level of technical training: from grade school to grad school and beyond.
If the reader has any suggestions for additional references, especially relevant children's books and primers, please contact the writer.
First third: *General* references. The first two citations are large format visual primers, which feature beautiful color photographs of quartz and its varieties (Desautels; Hurlbut). For visual example, page 107 in its entirety is a color photograph, 8 and 3/8 inches by 10 and 5/8 inches (21 by 27 cm), of the "World's finest and largest crystal ball" at larger than half-scale! (Actual scale: 0.5874- to 1.) The next two are best described as 'treatises for laymen' (Dake, Fleener, & Wilson; Spencer & Ramsdell in En. Brit.). The latter reference is crisply written and very comprehensive.
Second third: *Specific* references. Three of these four citations consist of the quartz sections from mineralogical and gemological textbooks (Berry & Mason; Ford; Kraus & Slawson): the fourth is the "Quartz Crystal" chapter by McCormick from "Industrial Rocks and Minerals" (Dolbear). This latter reference is more or less an older version of the 1996 government document entitled: "Electronic-Grade Quartz Crystal", an associated document within this QUARTZ Archive. In short, this post-WWII document on the industrial applications of quartz is historically complementary to the recent government document herein.
Third third. *Treatises* on Quartz, Silica, and Silicates. These four citations consist of scientific reference texts for the technically enabled reader. Frondel's Volume III of "Dana's System of Mineralogy" is the 'mineralogist's bible' on quartz, and its varieties, in context with the other forms (polymorphs) of silica. Sosman's "The Phases of Silica" provides an alternate viewpoint on silica: that of a physical chemist and ceramist, rather than that of another mineralogist. Heaney, Prewitt, and Gibbs have amassed a 606 page mineralogical 'Magnum Opus' on silica, the most common oxide in the Earth's crust. The physical chemist's and ceramist's equivalent 'Magnum Opus' is represented by Eitel's exhaustive encyclopedic work on "The Physical Chemistry of The Silicates". Containing 1592 pages in a single volume, this ponderous tome is nearly 3 inches (7.5 cm) thick and weighs nearly five pounds! Actual weight: 4 pounds 14.7 ounces (2.231 kg).*
*LLB Historical Note: Eitel's book is quite massive, unlike Herr Doktor, the German Encyclopedist, himself! Dr. Eitel was a very thin, gaunt fellow. I remember him as one of my father's friends who was a professor at the University of Toledo, Ohio during my childhood. More precisely, he was Director of Silicate Research at UT. He walked past our house every day, like clockwork, and was frequently seen walking along with his hands locked behind his back, deep in thought. In the winter he wore an enormous greatcoat, with his brushy gray hair sticking out above the collar. Dr. Eitel, a daily feature of my childhood, is remembered by my 91 year-old mother as a quiet fellow who reminded her of Einstein, because of his apparent unconcern for his outward appearance! In short, he was some of the 'local color' in my neighborhood who was a common subject of discussion, yet well known and respected by all who knew him.
References Cited:
Desautels, P. E., and Boltin, L., 1970, "The Gem Kingdom": Random House, Inc., New York, 252p. (22 index refs; many large photos)
Hurlbut. C. S., Jr., 1970, "Minerals and Man": Random House, New York, 304p. (64 index refs, esp. Quartz, pp. 227-248; many large photos)
Dake, H. C., Fleener, F. L., and Wilson, B. H., 1938, "Quartz Family Minerals ~ A Handbook for the Mineral Collector": Whittlesey House, Div. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 304p. (Historical, very comprehensive, well illustrated w/ B&W photos)
Spencer, L. J., and Ramsdell, L. S., 1972, "QUARTZ" in Encyclopedia Brittanica: v. 18, 1197p. (Concise, yet comprehensive, pp. 936-938)
Berry, L. G., and Mason, B., 1959, "Mineralogy ~ Concepts.Descriptions. Determinations: W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 630p. (37 refs, esp. Quartz, pp. 474-479)
Ford, W. E., 1957 (18th printing), "A Textbook of Mineralogy" with an extended treatise on "Crystallography and Physical Mineralogy" by E. S. Dana: 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 851p. (Quartz, pp. 470-475)
Dolbear, S. H., 1949, "Industrial Rocks and Minerals" (Nonmetallics other than fuels): 2nd ed., The American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, (AIME), New York, 1156p. (McCormick, R. B., "Quartz Crystal", Ch. 38, pp.766-773)
Kraus, E. H., and Slawson, C. B., 1941, "Gems and Gem Materials": McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 287p. (8 refs, esp. Quartz, pp. 190-201)
Frondel, C., 1962, "The System of Mineralogy" of J. D. and E. S. Dana, Volume III, "Silica Minerals": 7th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 334p.
Sosman, R. B., 1965, "The Phases of Silica": Rutgers Univ. Press, New Brunswick, NJ, 388p. (78 refs: 47 refs for quartz, 17 for High-quartz, 14 for Low-quartz)
Heaney, P. J., Prewitt, C. T., and Gibbs, G. V., 1994, "SILICA ~ Physical Behavior, Geochemistry and Materials Applications": Reviews in Mineralogy, v. 29, Ribbe, P. H., series ed., Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D. C., 606p. (Numerous scientific papers, no index)
Eitel, W., 1954, "The Physical Chemistry of The Silicates": The Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1592p. (Incredibly detailed, encyclopedic)