A volume containing "rough notes" on the pertaining to the history of mineralogy and crystallography. Few people today would claim mineralogy as a science balanced on the edge of significant discovery, but that was not the case in the past. Then, mineralogy and its companion study crystallography were important sciences with each new discovery being widely publicized and debated. Many researchers, some of whom may be counted among the greatest geniuses of the human race, contemplated, investigated and wrote about minerals and crystals.
"Mineralogy & Crystallography: On the History of these Sciences," attempts in some measure to spotlight these people and their discoveries. It covers the period from pre-history through the first two decades of the 20th century, many citations in a variety of languages. It is a reference intended for collectors, booksellers, librarians and historians of science, who have an interest in the development of mineral studies. But it is not yet complete. These are the rough notes of what I hope one day will be a comprehensive historical study, which will act as a companion to the "Mineralogy & Crystallography: A Biobibliography of Books 1469 to 1919" (also available on www.archive.org).