Rock and Gem: The Definitive Guide to Rocks, Minerals, Gemstones, and Fossils

by Ronald L. Bonewitz

Explore the treasures of the Earth – sparkling crystals, vibrant gemstones, and age-old fossils – with this illustrated guide that’s sure to captivate every rockhound and budding gemologist.

From primeval origins to their astonishing modern-day uses and appeal, this is the ultimate portrait of Earth's geological riches – rocks, minerals, crystals, and gems. Also included is a focussed look at other precious materials often prized for their beauty, such as amber, coral, ivory, and fossils.

Learn how to identify more than 450 rock and mineral specimens through stunning photographs and detailed characteristics. Discover more about rocks and minerals through folklore and historical artifacts, and find out the fascinating stories behind the world's natural treasures, including the Hope diamond and the Great Mogul emerald. Practical advice on cutting, polishing, and displaying your finds further equips you with all the knowledge needed to delve into the world of rock and mineral collecting.

Rock and Gem  were produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, the world's largest museum complex, ensuring the guide's accuracy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Science, Nature, Geology

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2005

Reviews

[Joy Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource and reference book!

[Ricardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated comprehensive book. Very very informative.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

We bought this to use as a family encyclopedia of rocks and minerals, and it is full of wonderful pictures and detailed (lay-friendly) scientific descriptions. I do think the layout could be a bit more user-friendly, but overall a great book and resource.

[Angelica Barcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acquistato al Museo di Storia Naturale di New York, un manuale interessante su rocce, gemme, pietre e minerali, su come riconoscerle e quali sono le loro caratteristiche.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would imagine that this book would be invaluable to the keen hobbyist gem and rock collector, and might even be useful to a professional jeweller, and it's packed with useful information... assuming you already have a grounding in the field. As a beginner, though, a lot of the terms went straight over my head; terms are introduced in the text without explanation and the glossary misses out many key concepts fro the text. It did, however, give me a small foothold in the field and, should I wish to pursue petrology further, it will be a go-to book. Call it an intermediate course book. So three stars if you're a beginner, five stars if you're a knowledgeable enthusiast.

[Melanie Cook]

This looks like one of the best rock and gem (and mineral) books I've ever seen! Jade and I both want to have it for ourselves!