BUTLER, Gurdon Montague.
(1881 – 1961)
Butler taught geology and mineralogy at the University of Arizona from 1915 until 1954. He made special studies of the clay minerals and of the mineral species found in Arizona.
Biographical references: American Mineralogist: 47 (1962), p. 438-443 [By J.W. Anthony]. Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 2, p. 672.
1. English, 1908 [First edition].
A Pocket Handbook | Of Minerals | Designed For Use In The Field Or Class-Room | With | Little Reference To Chemical Tests | By | G. Montague Butler, E.M. | [...3 lines of titles and memberships...] | First Edition | First Thousand | New York | John Wiley & Sons | London: Chapman & Hall, Limited | 1908.
16°: [1]-ix, [1], [1]-298 p., 89 text illus.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso "Copyright, 1908, | By | G. Montague Butler | ..."; iii-vi, "Preface."; vii-ix, "Table Of Contents."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-291, Text.; [292], Blank.; 293-298, "Index."
Scarce. A useful and much used handbook of basic mineralogy, used by prospectors and students at the beginning of the 20th century. Ignoring theoretical discussions or laboratory techniques, the text covers the basic identification of mineral species that will be likely found in the field. It was prepared by the author to be carried in the pocket during field excursions aiming "to give all the details which may be needed to identify most of the minerals which mining men, students, or collectors are apt to encounter, and the emphasis is always placed upon characteristic physical features". The minerals are provided in a systematic arrangement based upon Dana's classification. Apparently popular, the basic text was reissued many times after the first appearance of 1908.
2nd edition, 1938: A Pocket Handbook | Of Minerals | Designed For Use In The Field Or Class-Room | With | Little Reference To Chemical Tests | By G. Montague Butler, E.M. | Dean, College of Engineering , University of Arizona | Second Edition | New York | John Wiley & Sons | London: Chapman & Hall, Limited. 8°: [4], [i]-ix, [1], [1]-155, [1] p., 5 folding tables.
Updated with a considerable number of additional species have been included, with the complete text revised based upon the experience of the previous decades of use.
Bibliographical references: NUC.
2. English, 1910 [First edition].
Blowpipe Analysis | Designed For The Use Of | Students And Prospectors With The Idea Of | Making Oral Instruction Unnecessary | By | G. Montague Butler, E.M. | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | First Edition | First Thousand | New York | John Wiley & Sons | London: Chapman & Hall, Limited | 1910.
16°: [i]-v, [1], [1]-80 p.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso Copyright, 1910, | By | G. Montague Butler | ..."; iii-iv, "Preface."; v, "Table Of Contents."; [1 pg], Blank.; [1]-72, Text.; 73, "Table of Elements with their Symbols and Atomic Weights."; 75-80, "Index."
Scarce. A very good introduction on blowpipe and chemical analysis of many of the common minerals that was popular among students and amateurs for many years.
Bibliographical references: NUC.
3. English, 1918 [First edition].
A Manual of | Geometrical Crystallography | Treating Solely Of Those Portions | Of The Subject Useful In The | Identification Of Minerals | By | G. Montague Butler, E.M. | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | First Edition | New York | John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | London: Chapman & Hall, Limited | 1918.
12°: [i]-viii, [1]-155, [1] p., 107 text illus.
Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso "Copyright, 1918 | By | G. Montague Butler | ..."; iii-v, "Preface."-dated 15 September 1917.; [vi], Blank.; vii-viii, "Table Of Contents."; [1]-152, Text.; 153-155, "Index."; [1], Blank.
Very scarce. An introdution to the science of physical crystallography with the express purpose of mineral identification by students of mineralogy and mine engineering. All information not useful in instructing students on the sight identification of minerals has been omitted, following a system first proposed by H.B. Patton at the Colorado School of Mines. Instruction included the study of numerous wooden, cardboard or plaster models of idealized crystals, together with oral quizzes involving the forms represented by the crystal form. Basic information on the crystal systems is covered together with discusses of crystal twins, parallel growth, striations, cleavage, and etched figures and corrosion.
Bibliographical references: NUC.
4. English, 1918.
Handbook of mineralogy, blowpipe analysis, and geometrical crystallography, by G. Montague Butler. New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [1918]
3 vols. in one.
Very scarce. A collection of Butler's previous writings on minerals, crystallography and the use of the blowpipe combined by the publisher into a single convient volume.
Contents: A pocket-handbook of minerals, by G. M. Butler.-Pocket handbook of blowpipe analysis, by G. M. Butler.-A manual of geometrical crystallography, by G. M. Butler.
Bibliographical references: NUC.
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