Introduction to mineralogy / Введение в минералогию

Almost every human endeavor is influenced by minerals. Many natural resources used in the manufacture of goods on which civilization and our lives depend begin as minerals in the ground. The crops that we eat are grown in soil composed of minerals. The safety and stability of structures such as buildings, roads, and bridges depend on the mechanical properties of the minerals that make up the rocks and soil on which they are built. In addition, the chemical composition, structure, and texture of the minerals that compose the rocks beneath our feet provide myriad clues that guide geoscientists as they attempt to decipher the history of the earth.