Preface to ‘Lectures on Mineral Physics’

The "Lectures on Mineral Physics" series is derived from the author's lectures for the Master's course at the Bayerisches Geoinstitut, University of Bayreuth. It aims to elucidate the fundamental properties of minerals. The topics covered include thermodynamic properties, elasticity theory, lattice vibrations, equation of state, heat transport, point defects, line defects, planar defects, diffusion, electrical conductivity, and deformation. This series is intentionally designed to be accessible to Master's students in geology, even without an extensive background in physics and mathematics.