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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Rocks, minerals & fossils
The fossil-bearing rocks of the British Isles represent life from
the last 2,900 million years and the UK is seen by many as the
cradle of modern geology. Using the geological map of Britain,
expert palaeontologist Peter Doyle offers a comprehensive guide to
fossils in the UK, plotting the main fossil groups around the
country, and relating them to the different ages of the rock in
which they are found. With photographs of the fossils that can be
discovered, and tips on how to find them yourself, "British
Fossils" is the perfect companion for the novice fossil hunter or
enthusiast.
Gemstones have been a source of fascination for Millenia, from the
icy brilliance of diamond and the soft iridescence of pearl, to the
deep red garnets treasured by ancient Egyptians and Victorians
alike. They are used for their natural beauty in jewellery, worn
for protection as talismans, associated with romance and power.
They are also of scientific importance, forming over billions of
years and containing secrets to the inner earth. This book examines
the world's most commonly encountered gemstones, exploring their
unique beauty, rarity, and durability. It reveals how these gem
materials formed, where they are mined, how they are identified by
their physical and optical properties, their enhancements and
imitations. Travelling through each gem's history and use in
adornment, it is filled with fascinating facts for the curious to
the professional. With sumptuous colour photographs, Gemstones is a
dazzling insight into the world of the rare and valuable.
Well-known geologist Nick Norman leads young readers into the absorbing world of geology. Budding rock collectors will find out all about the rocks that they’ll encounter in southern Africa, with a view to building their own rock collections.
Box of Rocks is packed with fascinating information about:
- how rocks form
- how to identify the different rock types
- what rocks are made of
- what different rocks are used for
- where to go to collect each rock type.
Readers will also learn about Stone Age tools, fossils and some of our best-known geological sites.
This is the story of the dinosaurs, uniquely retold through 50 of
the most significant findings from the fossil record. Each entry is
illustrated with special photography of original specimens that
illustrate both the history of dinosaur discovery and key
evolutionary events. Palaeontologist Paul M. Barrett explains the
importance of each fossil and how it marks a crucial inflection
point in an evolutionary dynasty that ruled the Earth for more than
150 million years. The book is divided into themed sections,
beginning with dinosaur ancestors before introducing all the major
dinosaur groups and moving on to the distinctive aspects of their
biology such as feeding, distribution, locomotion and behaviour.
The final section focuses on the first fossil birds including the
legendary Archaeopteryx, the feathered dinosaur that is widely
considered to be the first bird species.
The book "Landslide Research- The DST's Initiatives" is a
compilation of over 21 Scientific articles on various aspects of
Landslides viz: Overviews, Earth system processes and Landslides,
Landslide hazard Zonation mapping, Geotechnical investigations,
instrumentation and early warning of Landslides, Satellite based
monitoring of Landslides, site specific investigations etc. These
articles are the outcome of the studies carried by various
academicians, researchers and the research institutions under the
funding of NRDMS/DST in different geological provinces of Indian
subcontinent. These articles provide wider and deeper spectrum of
information on earth system processes like post collision tectonics
of Shillong plateau, Churachandpur-Mao fault and up-warping of
Tirumalai hills and the Landslides; different geo-spatial and
geo-statistical techniques and optimisation of methods for
Landslide hazard zonation mapping from Western Ghats of South
India, BIS based methods of LHZ mapping and Geotechnical
investigations encompassing RMR, SMR & Kinematic studies of
landslides of northeastern region; instrumentation and forewarning
of Jakhri Landslides, wireless sensor based Landslide monitoring of
Munnar (Kerala); SAR interferometery based monitoring of Nainital
and Mansadevi landslides; and site specific landslides studies of
Kailasaur (Himalayas), Rawana slides (Himachal Pradesh),
geophysical studies of Landslides of Mizoram region, Malin
landslides (Maharashtra), techniques of diagnosing active movements
from Nilgiris etc.
Due to unprecedented growth in population and the resultant massive
mining of energy resources, especially the non-renewable resources
and also water resources, these resources have gradually become
scarce commodities. Hence the geoscientists and the technocrats
from all over the world have embarked into many fold research
programmes for locating newer reservoirs of these resources and
also to develop models to conserve and sustainably exploit them. As
this involves the total understanding of the rock types, tectonic
architecture, geomorphology and reservoir conditions, the Geomatics
technology comprising Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System
(GIS), etc have been found to be vital tools in the inventory and
management of these resources; While the former due to its
synoptivity, multispectral nature and repeativity and the latter by
virtue of its capability to store, manipulate and model huge volume
of spatial and non-spatial data. Divergent geological provinces and
processes are brought out deserving concepts and methods on
geology, 3D visualization of subsurface lineaments, SRTM based
lineament mapping, spatio-linear modeling of hard rock aquifer
systems, 3D visualization of oil bearing structures, etc., both as
field geologists and as researchers.
This book discusses the fundamental principles of different
branches of geology prescribed in the syllabus, so that the
students acquire basic knowledge of the subject. The book consists
of basic concepts and practical aspects of these subjects as
prescribed syllabus of Civil and Mining Engineering courses in
various Universities and Institutes.
Gems still exert a powerful influence on the modern world,
enlightened though it is said to be: once poverty-stricken,
Botswana has recently found sudden wealth under the desert sands,
where diamonds have been hiding for a hundred million years. In the
Congo, Zaire, and Angola, civil war in our times has been inspired
partly by mineral riches. And the rivalry of East and West over the
African continent is concerned almost entirely with natural
resources. This absorbing and often astonishing history of
legendary gems is told with style and wit by expert gemmologist
Eric Bruton. Amid legends and intrigue are hard facts about gems -
classification, valuation and engraving. Prospecting and mining
details, plus the inside (and sometimes sordid) stories of how
enormous stones were cut and dispersed in great secrecy, make this
book a 'must' read for the gemmologist and jeweller.
An illustrated guide to introduction to major fossil groups.
Amber is a remarkable substance that originates from the resin of
trees that lived millions of years ago. Anything that became
trapped in this sticky resin was fossilized and perfectly
preserved. The insects and other inclusions found in amber today
are providing scientists with unique insights into the history of
life on Earth. In this new edition of "Amber", Andrew Ross provides
an engaging overview of this prehistoric substance and its
fossilized inclusions. The book explains how amber is formed, where
it is found and how to distinguish genuine amber from fakes. It
describes its many uses, both in art and science, and recounts the
elusive search for DNA from fossilized insects. Detailed keys and
stunning photographs, including previously unseen pieces of Burmese
amber from the Museum's collections, guide the reader in the
identification of species of insects and other amber inclusions.
"Amber" is essential reading for all those with an interest in this
natural time capsule.
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