The second edition of this classic book provides an updated look at crystal field theory - one of the simplest models of chemical bonding - and its applications. Crystal field theory provides a link between the visible region spectra and thermodynamic properties of numerous rock-forming minerals and gems that contain the elements iron, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel or copper. These elements are major constituents of terrestrial planets and significantly influence their geochemical and geophysical properties. A unique perspective of the second edition is that it highlights the properties of minerals that make them compounds of interest to solid-state chemists and physicists as well as to all earth and planetary scientists. This book will be useful as a textbook for advanced students as well as a valuable reference work for all research workers interested in this subject.

‘ … useful as a textbook for advanced students, valuable reference work for all research workers … ’

Source: Physikalische Berichte

‘This second edition of a (now) classic text is as welcome as the first edition was novel … the quality of Burns’ work shines through all 550 or so pages … an excellent read … For geochemists the book will be required reading: it will appeal also to many inorganic chemists. For the many physicists it will be an excellent and well-thumbed reference book.’

Source: Contemporary Physics

‘Specialists will appreciate the concise and precise presentation of the data, and the exhaustive bibliography.’

Source: European Journal of Minerals