Mineralogical Society of America. (1958). Paul F. Kerr: Award Recipient.
Paul F. Kerr's "Optical Mineralogy" is a foundational text that has contributed significantly to the development of the field. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and techniques of optical mineralogy, as well as a detailed survey of the optical properties of minerals. Kerr's work remains an essential resource for researchers, students, and professionals in geology, materials science, and related fields.
The book's enduring value is evident in its content and user-friendly design:
Before diving into the PDF, it is essential to understand the author. Paul F. Kerr (1897–1981) was a distinguished professor of mineralogy at Columbia University. He was a pioneer in applying X-ray diffraction techniques to clay mineralogy and was a consultant on the Manhattan Project (where he studied bentonite for atomic energy applications). Optical Mineralogy Paul F Kerr.pdf
Kerr's work in optical mineralogy spanned several decades, during which he made significant contributions to the field. His book, "Optical Mineralogy," first published in 1931, was a comprehensive treatise on the subject, covering the principles of optics, mineralogical microscopy, and the optical properties of minerals. The book was widely acclaimed and became a standard reference text for mineralogists and geologists.
You might wonder why you shouldn't just use a modern text like Nesse (Introduction to Optical Mineralogy) or a mobile app.
“Paul F. Kerr,” she whispered, her breath fogging the eyepiece. Optical Mineralogy . Fourth edition. The one with the worn, dark green cover and the spine held together by library tape and sheer stubbornness. It was the only book that contained the complete table of “Uncommon Extinction Angles and Anomalous Interference Figures.” Mineralogical Society of America
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This section provides a detailed catalog of minerals, organized by their chemical and structural classes.
Paul F. Kerr's "Optical Mineralogy" is a foundational textbook, offering rigorous, practical methods for identifying minerals through polarized light microscopy and descriptive mineral tables. Its enduring legacy lies in guiding geologists through key diagnostic properties, such as birefringence, pleochroism, and interference figures, utilizing the optical indicatrix. While digital copies of this seminal work are widely sought, the text remains a essential resource for both academic study and professional geological analysis. Share public link Kerr: Award Recipient
The primary achievement of Kerr’s text is its ability to synthesize two distinct disciplines: physics and geology. Optical mineralogy is, at its core, the physics of light interacting with crystalline matter. Concepts such as isotropy, anisotropy, refraction, and interference are abstract and mathematically dense. Kerr’s approach was distinct for its clarity in bridging these abstract concepts with tangible mineral identification.
In 1924, Kerr joined Columbia University as a Professor of Mineralogy, and in 1959, he was appointed the Newberry Professor of Mineralogy. He was a key figure in the department, serving as its chair from 1944 to 1950 and later contributing to the founding of Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.