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This unique publication was written with a broad spectrum of users in mind, from the novice rockhound to the trained professional, including students, prospectors, geoscientists and mineral laboratories. It is literally a step-by-step cookbook approach to mineral identification and includes easily administered "how-to methods" some of which are proprietary. For the first time it is now possible for even a novice to derive at a reasonable positive identification of an unknown mineral sample. Surprisingly, expensive research equipment is not necessary to achieve positive results.
Trained professionals and laboratories may find the publication useful as a ready reference for certain steps or methodologies that can be executed with a high degree of accuracy. In addition, integrated into the mineral identification process is an exhaustive collection of tables and charts.
About the author
Dr. rer. nat. Uwe Richard Kackstaetter, a German native, received his B.A. in Geology from the University of Northern Colorado, his M.S. in Geology from Brigham Young University, Utah and his Ph.D. in Applied Geology and Mineralogy "magna cum laude" from the University of Würzburg, Germany. His ongoing interests are in developing various practical approaches and advanced tools for geoscience field work, especially in mineralogy and geochemistry. He currently works as Professor of Geology at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he teaches courses in Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy, Hydrogeology, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Applied Volcanology, Field Methods and a geology senior capstone course in Undergraduate Research.
