"Optical Mineralogy" by Paul F. Kerr, notably the 1977 fourth edition, is a foundational textbook for identifying minerals in thin sections using polarized light. The text offers a systematic approach combining optical crystallography theory with comprehensive mineral descriptions. A digital version can be accessed via Geokniga . OPTICAL MINERALOGY
A search for the PDF typically yields the 3rd or 4th edition. Here is what you can expect from the digital scan of this classic. Optical Mineralogy Paul F Kerr.pdf
Paul F. Kerr’s Optical Mineralogy is a masterpiece of technical instruction. While technology has advanced to include X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microprobes, the polarizing microscope remains the primary tool for field geologists and petrologists. Kerr’s text provides the rigorous background necessary to master this tool, moving students from simple observations of color and shape to complex determinations of crystallographic orientation and chemical composition clues. "Optical Mineralogy" by Paul F
Kerr was not just a theoretician; he was an experimentalist. He authored the first edition of Optical Mineralogy in 1943, with subsequent editions released in 1959 and 1977. The third edition (published by McGraw-Hill) remains the gold standard. His approach was distinctly practical—lenses, stage techniques, and interference figures were described with the clarity of a master teacher who had spent thousands of hours at the microscope. A digital version can be accessed via Geokniga
When you find a PDF, look for a file size over 50 MB. Smaller files (10 MB) are usually text-only OCR scans lacking the critical plates.
The search term "" typically refers to the 3rd or 4th edition. The book is divided into two logical parts: Fundamental Principles and Descriptive Mineralogy .
Paul F. Kerr's "Optical Mineralogy" is an undeniably important and historically influential textbook. However, its value today lies in its systematic, practical approach to instruction, not in being a modern, up-to-date reference. For those learning the fundamental skills of identifying minerals under a polarizing microscope, it remains a classic. However, any professional geologist using it should be aware of its significant shortcomings in current scientific accuracy and supplement their knowledge with modern sources.