Humanity's ever-increasing hunger for mineral raw materials,caused by a growing global population and ever increasingstandards of living, has resulted in economic geologybecoming a subject of urgent importance.
This book provides a broad panorama of mineral deposits,covering their origin and geological characteristics, theprinciples of the search for ores and minerals, and theinvestigation of newly found deposits. Practical and environmentalissues that arise during the life cycle of a mine and after itsclosure are addressed, with an emphasis on sustainable and "green"mining.
The central scientific theme of the book is to place theextraordinary variability of mineral deposits in the frame offundamental geological processes.
The book is written for earth science students and practicinggeologists worldwide. Professionals in administration, resourcedevelopment, mining, mine reclamation, metallurgy, and mineraleconomics will also find the text valuable.
Economic Geology is a fully revised translation of thethe fifth edition of the German language text Mineralische undEnergie-Rohstoffe.
Additional resources for this book can be foundat: www.wiley.com/go/pohl/geology.
The author's website can be found at: http://www.walter-pohl.com.

Preface.Introduction.What are ore deposits?Mining in the stress field between society and environment.The mineral resources conundrum.Part I Metalliferous Ore Deposits.1 Geological ore formation process systems(metallogenesis).Synopsis.1.1 Magmatic Ore Formation Systems.1.2 Supergene Ore Formation Systems.1.3 Sedimentary Ore Formation Systems.1.4 Diagenetic Ore Formation Systems.1.5 Metamorphic and Metamorphosed Ore Deposits.1.6 Metamorphogenic Ore Formation Systems.1.7 Metallogeny - Ore Deposit Formation in Space andTime.1.8 Genetic Classification of Ore and Mineral Deposits.1.9 Summary and Further Reading.2 Economic geology of metals.Synopsis.2.1 The Iron and Steel Metals.2.2 Base Metals.2.3 Precious Metals.2.4 Light Metals.2.5 Minor and Speciality Metals.2.6 Summary and Further Reading.Part II Non-Metallic Minerals and Rocks.3 Industrial minerals, earths and rocks.Synopsis.3.1 Andalusite, Kyanite and Sillimanite.3.2 Asbestos.3.3 Barite and Celestite.3.4 Bentonite (Smectite Rocks).3.5 Boron.3.6 Carbonate Rocks: Limestone, Calcite Marble, Marlstone,Dolomite.3.7 Clay and Clay Rocks.3.8 Diamond.3.9 Diatomite and Tripoli.3.10 Feldspar.3.11 Fluorite.3.12 Graphite.3.12.1 Graphite deposit types.3.13 Gypsum and Anhydrite.3.14 Kaolin.3.15 Magnesite.3.16 Mica (Muscovite, Phlogopite, Vermiculite).3.17 Olivine.3.18 Phosphates.3.19 Quartz and Silicon.3.20 Quartzite.3.21 Quartz Sand and Gravel.3.22 Sodium Carbonate, Sulfate and Alum.3.23 Sulphur.3.24 Talc and Pyrophyllite.3.25 Volcaniclastic Rocks.3.26 Wollastonite.3.27 Zeolites.3.28 Summary and Further Reading.4 Salt deposits (evaporites).Synopsis.4.1 Salt Minerals and Salt Rocks.4.2 The Formation of Salt Deposits.4.3 Post-Depositional Fate of Salt Rocks.4.4 From Exploration to Salt Mining.4.5 Summary and Further Reading.Part III The Practice of Economic Geology.5 Geological concepts and methods in the mining cycle:exploration, exploitation and closure of mines.Synopsis.5.1 Economic Considerations.5.2 The Search for Mineral Deposits (Exploration).5.3 Development and Valuation of Mineral Deposits.5.4 Mining and the Environment.5.5 Deep Geological Disposal of Dangerous Waste.5.6 Summary and Further Reading.Part IV Fossil Energy Raw Materials -- Coal, Oil andGas.6 Coal.Synopsis.6.1 The Substance of Coal.6.2 Peat Formation and Coal Deposits.6.3 The Coalification Process.6.4 Post-Depositional Changes of Coal Seams.6.5 Applications of Coal Geology.6.6 Summary and Further Reading.7 Petroleum and natural gas deposits.Synopsis.7.1 Species of Natural Bitumens, Gas and Kerogen, and theirProperties.7.2 The Origin of Petroleum and Natural Gas.7.3 Formation of Petroleum and Natural Gas Deposits.7.4 Exploring for Petroleum and Natural Gas Deposits.7.5 The Exploitation of Petroleum and Natural Gas Deposits.7.6 Tar Sand, Asphalt, Pyrobitumen and Shungite.7.7 Oil Shales.7.8 Environmental Aspects of Oil and Gas Production.7.9 Summary and Further Reading.Epilogue.References.Index.