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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

An illustrated guide to introduction to major fossil groups.

Although known for its gold production, California is a virtual haven for rock and gem collectors. With this fully revised and updated edition, you can explore the mineral-rich desert regions, comb tide-washed beaches for jade, agate, abalone, fossilized whale bone, and prospect in the mountains and hills for gold, copper, and other minerals and gems. It describes 75 of the state's best rockhounding sites and covers popular and commercial sites as well as numerous little-known areas. This handy guide also describes how to collect specimens, includes maps, directions, and GPS coordinates for each site, and lists rockhound clubs around the state. Rockhounding California offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby.