Abstract

<h2>Acta Crystallographica Section A</h2><h3>Crystal Physics, Diffraction, Theoretical and General Crystallography</h3><h3>0567-7394</h3> <h2>book reviews</h2> Volume 33 Part 1 Page 253 January 1977 <h2> Technische Mineralogie . Bd.8. Auflösung von Kristallen by R. B. Heimann</h2> G. E. Pringle Technische Mineralogie. Bd. 8. AuflSsung von Kri- stallen. By R. B. HEIMANN. Pp. viii+270. Springer- Verlag, 1975. Price DM 115.00. The subjects of crystal habit, solution and etching with which this text deals have a history from the early days of crys- tallography (one reference is to 1820) up to the present-day development and application of dislocation theory and chemical kinetics. The first and longest section of this book is devoted to 'micromorphology', i.e. the systematic study of the form, stability and kinematics of surface etching. It begins with a survey of theoretical approaches to these topics, leading on to illustrative examples in which the structural and chemical aspects play their role in detail. Due weight is given to the symmetry of etch pits and their relation to crystal symmetry groups. In Chap. 6 there is a brief account of techniques of etching and chemical polishing and of various procedures for observing and recording the results. There is also reference to 'hypomorphy' and