Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 1
Sevillano-L
ó
pez and Gonz
á
lez (
2011
)
view that, whatever the subject, one should use every
available source in its original form, investigate the available
work with objective scrutiny, and carry out research through
direct observation and experimentation (Said
1989
).
Kitab al
-
Jamahir
(
Precious Stones
), written by Al Biruni,
and translated and published by Said (
1989
), is described as
including
the most complete medieval text of mineralogy,
with descriptions of minerals and metals from all over the
Asiatic and European continents
“
”
. Avicenna
'
s topic, entitled
“
Kitab al
-
Shifa
”
(the Topic of Cure, Healing or Remedy
from Ignorance),
includes six chapters on geology titled
“
Formation of mountains, the advantages of mountains in
the formation of clouds; Sources of water; Origin of earth-
quakes; Formation of minerals; and the diversity of Earth
'
s
terrain
il Ikhwan al-Safa
have produced one of the most complete Medieval ency-
clopedias (52 volumes) of sciences, antecedent by at least
two centuries to the best known in the Latin world dating
back to the 13th century. These works deal with mineralogy,
geology and gemmology and the correspondence established
between the celestial and sub-lunar worlds, i.e., between the
stars and minerals. It is a collection of epistles, the Arabic
title of which is Ras
”
. The anonymous authors of Rasa
'
Fig. 2
Sketch of Mount Behistun, or rock of Behistun (Rawlinson
2005
)
gure in the phalanx of those universally learned Muslim
scholars who characterize the Golden Age of Islamic Sci-
ence (Said
1989
; Saliba
2011
). His scienti
c contributions in
so many diverse
, the
Master or Professor
par excellence
. Al Biruni was of the
elds earned him the title
“
al-Ustadh
”
â'
il Ikhw
â
n al-Saf
â'
wa Khull
â
n al-
Waf
â'
(Epistles of
the Pure Brethren and the Sincere
