The language of geology and mineralogy at your fingertips. Derived from the world-renowned "McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, Sixth Edition", this vital reference offers a wealth of essential information in a portable, convenient, quick-find format. Whether you're a professional, a student, a writer, or a general reader with an interest in science, there is no better or more authoritative way to stay up-to-speed with the current language of geology and mineralogy or gain an understanding of its key ideas and concepts. Written in clear, simple language understandable to the general reader, yet in-depth enough for scientists, educators, and advanced students, "The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Geology & Mineralogy, Second Edition" has been extensively revised, with 9,000 entries encompassing the language of geology and mineralogy.This book: includes synonyms, acronyms, and abbreviations; provides pronunciations for all terms; covers such topics as physical geology, historical geology, mineralogy, marine geology, plate tectonics, petrology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy; and includes an appendix containing tables of useful data and information. This book is based on the "McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms" - for more than a quarter-of-a-century. This is the standard international reference. Carefully reviewed for clarity, completeness, and accuracy, the "McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Geology & Mineralogy, Second Edition", offers a standard of excellence unmatched by any similar publication.