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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Rocks, minerals & fossils
A fascinating exploration of exquisite images captured from natural
materials, and of their applications in fashion, environmental
design, and apps that anticipate a new era of digitally-driven
individual creativity. Data From Nature begins with the chance
encounter between an ammonite and a digital scanner and goes on to
relate the author's growing immersion in the micro-scale beauty of
minerals and--thanks to new digital means of production--their
applications in wide areas of design. These include an
award-winning range of silk scarves for Liberty of London (also
sold in Saks Fifth Avenue); "frocks from rocks"; a striking
architectural facade in London, and the transformation of his own
house and garden using the latest digital techniques. Along the way
we learn about how minerals form in the Earth; ways they have been
admired and imagined from ancient civilizations to the dawn of
Modernity; and discover how the inlaid surfaces of Renaissance
cabinets of curiosity could inspire creative coloring and design
apps intended to equip children and adults alike to participate
creatively in the Digital Revolution. And as if all this weren't
enough, the book ends as improbably as it started with a short
biography of a "lost" (for which read "fictional")
seventeenth-century artist, Carlo Alcite, whose "works" reveal
powers of invention and draftsmanship worthy of a baroque master.
Everywhere in Yorkshire are clues to vanished worlds in the rocks,
fossils and landforms. This accessible, well-illustrated book is a
beautiful guide to the geology.
The Rhaetian Penarth Group includes the former Westbury Beds,
Cotham Beds, and White Lias. It crops out in a narrow strip from
the Devon and Dorset coast to the mouth of the Tees, and is
particularly well known from the exposures along the Bristol
Channel. This diverse suite of late Triassic sedimentary rocks is
internationally famous for the fossils that it yields, most notably
from the bone beds. Coverage is comprehensive, with separate
chapters on foraminifera, gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans,
insects, echinoderms, other invertebrates, conodonts, fish,
tetrapods, trace fossils and plants. There are background chapters
on sedimentology, stratigraphy and the formation of the bone beds.
The guide is copiously illustrated with specimens from all major UK
public collections of Penarth Group fossils illustrated on 26
plates and 30 text-figures. It will be of use both to collectors
who want to know more about this diverse and interesting suite of
fossils, as well as to students of geology who wish to understand
their conditions of deposition and accumulation.
From the bestselling author of Lunar Living comes the ultimate
guide to crystals and how they can help you live your best life.
This is the one book you need in order to understand how crystals
can enhance your everyday life and look after you. In Part 1,
Kirsty explores what crystals are, how they work, before going on
to explain how you choose, care for and programme them, and how to
go about using them. Then, in Part 2, Crystals for Self-Care delves
deeper into the many areas in which crystals work their magic.
Chapters include Crystals for Love and Relationships, Crystals for
Stress and Anxiety and Crystals for Work and Business. Crystals for
Self-Care will leave you feeling empowered, supported and ready to
embark on your own crystal journey!
Geology is destiny--understand it and life gets easier. Our
ancestors grasped enough about their environment to fashion tools,
start fires, erect shelters, and find water. The principles they
discovered long ago still apply, and the science behind stronger
concrete, usable marble, and more pure metals still stands. The
ancients were the first rockhounds out of necessity, and the skills
they perfected resonate from medicine to sanitation, from pottery
to food preservation. The Practical Geologist traces the impact of
geology on the first toolmakers in their trek toward civilization
and details how understanding geology allowed for advances in
agriculture, construction, weaponry, and the arts. The hacks,
shortcuts, and rules described here are still vital for not just
homesteaders, campers, hikers, and survivalists--the same
geological factors assist us all as we struggle with ever-changing
global conditions and reach for the stars. Using full-color
pictures, tables, diagrams, and simple language, The Practical
Geologist covers the basics of geology and applies them directly to
everyday situations, serving as a practical guide to co-existing in
the physical world.
A lively account of how dinosaurs became a symbol of American power
and prosperity and gripped the popular imagination during the
Gilded Age, when their fossil remains were collected and displayed
in museums financed by North America's wealthiest business tycoons.
Although dinosaur fossils were first found in England, a series of
dramatic discoveries during the late 1800s turned North America
into a world center for vertebrate paleontology. At the same time,
the United States emerged as the world's largest industrial
economy, and creatures like Tyrannosaurus, Brontosaurus, and
Triceratops became emblems of American capitalism. Large, fierce,
and spectacular, American dinosaurs dominated the popular
imagination, making front-page headlines and appearing in feature
films. Assembling the Dinosaur follows dinosaur fossils from the
field to the museum and into the commercial culture of North
America's Gilded Age. Business tycoons like Andrew Carnegie and J.
P. Morgan made common cause with vertebrate paleontologists to
capitalize on the widespread appeal of dinosaurs, using them to
project American exceptionalism back into prehistory. Learning from
the show-stopping techniques of P. T. Barnum, museums exhibited
dinosaurs to attract, entertain, and educate the public. By
assembling the skeletons of dinosaurs into eye-catching displays,
wealthy industrialists sought to cement their own reputations as
generous benefactors of science, showing that modern capitalism
could produce public goods in addition to profits. Behind the
scenes, museums adopted corporate management practices to control
the movement of dinosaur bones, restricting their circulation to
influence their meaning and value in popular culture. Tracing the
entwined relationship of dinosaurs, capitalism, and culture during
the Gilded Age, Lukas Rieppel reveals the outsized role these giant
reptiles played during one of the most consequential periods in
American history.
Trace fossils are the products of the activities of ancient
organisms, including tracks, trails, burrows, borings, eggs and
faecal remains. The importance of these fossils compared with body
fossils (shells, bones) is that they provide the palaeontologist
with evidence of how the ancient organism actually functioned,
including activities such as locomotion, feeding, reproduction and
social behaviour, for which no other data exist. They also provide
the only evidence of the existence of soft-bodied organisms for
which no other fossil material has survived.
Unearth a treasure trove of knowledge and discover the spectacular
array of rocks and minerals on Earth! Learn how to identify more
than 500 rocks and minerals of the world through stunning
photographs, detailed characteristics and quick, accessible text.
Inside the pages of this comprehensive guide, you'll discover: - A
clear visual key distinguishing different rocks and minerals to
make identification easy and accurate - Each entry includes
at-a-glance technical details, for quick reference - Stunning
photographs show close-ups of key details and unique attributes -
Highlights the key features of minerals: chemical group and
composition, hardness, specific gravity, crystal cleavage, and
fracture - Highlights the key features of rocks: group, origin,
pressure and temperature, grain size and shape, classification, and
fossils From igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks to
sparkling minerals, DK Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals leaves no
stone unturned. Over 600 high-quality photographs highlight over
500 rock or mineral's distinguishing features. Explore concise
details about each rock or mineral's texture, origin, formation,
and chemical composition to help you with accurate identification.
Updated Edition Discover a mine of information at your disposal!
Designed for beginners and experienced collectors alike, this
mineralogy book explains what rocks and minerals are, how they are
classified, and what equipment is needed for specimen collection.
It's the ultimate gift for rock collectors - both beginners and
enthusiasts, or anyone studying geology and earth sciences. An
updated edition for 2021 to include the latest scientific knowledge
and specimen classification. Complete the Series Before you go,
there are many more DK Handbooks to explore! Discover the
cleanest-cut photographic field guide to over 130 gemstones from
around the world in DK Handbooks: Gemstones. Learn all about
dinosaurs and prehistoric animals and the world they inhabited
millions of years ago in DK Handbooks: Dinosaurs.
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Gemstones
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Unearth a treasure trove of knowledge of over 130 gemstones from
around the world. Learn how gemstones are formed and how to
recognise them by their unique qualities and colours. A wonderful
book for beginners, students, and gemstone-enthusiasts that
includes the latest scientific research and gemstone
classification. Gemstones is filled with all you need to know about
these fascinating minerals - cut and uncut stones, organic
gemstones, and precious metals. Inside you'll find: - Fast facts
for quick reference, including chemical composition, hardness,
gravity, lustre, and reflective value - Photo close-ups of key
details and highlights of distinguishing features - Illustrations
of faceting and shapes popular for each gemstone - A detailed
introduction to everything a beginner gemologist needs to know
including how gemstones form, the different properties, crystal
shapes, faceting, and the history of gems Delve into the
one-of-a-kind characteristics, colours, and attributes of more than
130 gemstones with this compact visual guide. For easy
classification, each stone's entry includes annotated photographs
to highlight distinguishing features and concise details about the
attributes of gems. Designed for beginners and experienced
collectors alike, this gemology book explores what gemstones are,
how they are classified, and how to identify them by their physical
and optical properties. It also shows you how they were fashioned
and imitated throughout history. Learn the differences between
varieties of cut and uncut stones, organic gemstones, and precious
metals. It includes a glossary for many more technical and
scientific terms and over 800 high-quality photos of gems. It's the
ideal gift for any budding gemologist The DK Handbook series is an
incredible collection of titles that fascinate curious minds. Other
books include Rocks and Minerals, Dinosaurs, and Prehistoric Life,
and Stars and Planets.
A new edition of the clearest, most authoritative guide to rocks
and minerals 600 incredible photos, precise annotations and
detailed descriptions - from the distinguishing features of rocks
to which crystal system a mineral belongs to - will help you
identify different rocks and minerals quickly and easily. Covers
everything from what rocks or minerals are, how they are classified
to how to start a collection. Perfect for rocks and mineral lovers
- a comprehensive guide for collectors.
 Explore all the incredible colours in the natural world!
Why is the sky blue? What makes the grass green? Why is purple so
rare in nature? With fascinating and rarely heard facts on
wildlife, gemstones, sea life and more, I Can See Nature's Rainbow
is a visual feast for both young and old. Â Bold, beautiful
art covering ten colours of the vibrant natural world Learn all
about colour in nature, from pigment and light to plants and
habitats Full colour non-fiction picture book for ages 4+ Â
 Â
Get the perfect guide to rocks and minerals of the Grand Canyon
State! The book features comprehensive entries for 106 Arizona
rocks and minerals, from common rocks to rare finds. The
easy-to-use format means you'll quickly find what you need to know
and where to look, while the authors' photographs depict the detail
needed for identification - no need to guess from line drawings.
With this field guide in hand, identifying and collecting can be
fun and informative.
Updated 6th edition with new sites & museums! Learn Where &
How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals SOUTHWEST
Arizona • California • Colorado • Hawaii • Kansas Nevada
• New Mexico • Oklahoma • Texas • Utah Whether you're
digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or
"prospector," with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too
can strike it rich ... or at the very least, have fun trying. This
guide offers you easy-to-use information on the ins and outs of
"fee dig" mining, complete with locations, costs, tips on
technique, entertaining legends and important information on
everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest
restrooms. Included are resources for use in identifying your
finds, exploring the lapidary arts, and further pursuing an
exciting—and possibly profitable—hobby. Equipment and Clothing:
What you need and where to find it (or how to make it yourself).
Mining Techniques: Step-by-step instructions on panning for gold,
sluicing for gems and other methods. Gem and Mineral Sites:
Directions and maps, hours, fees and equipment needed. Also
includes info on guide services, local camping facilities and more.
Museums and Mine Tours: Where to visit commercial and historical
mines, as well as museums with exhibits of gems and minerals (for
help in learning what to look for). Special Events and Tourist
Information: Listings of regional events involving gems and
minerals, and sources of general travel and tourism information for
every state. Other Features: Where to find your birthstone, your
anniversary stone or your zodiac stone; Index by State; Index by
Gem/Mineral; U.S. State Gems & Minerals Chart; and more! The
Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guides to the U.S.A. in 4
regional volumes: Northeast ISBN: 978-0-9970145-0-1 Northwest ISBN:
978-0-9904152-8-2 Southeast ISBN: 978-0-9970145-1-8 Southwest ISBN:
978-0-9904152-9-9
This handy pocket guide presents the most fascinating and important rocks and minerals found in southern Africa. Accounts include diagnostic information, full-color photographs, concise descriptions, uses, and detailed information on where species occur.Physical characteristics of each mineral are summarized in tinted panels, and handy icons show other important information.
The rock section discusses how the three main rock types form. Pocket Guide: Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa will be invaluable both to amateur geologists and budding collectors.
Unearthing the Underworld reveals the hidden world of rocks - the
secret-keepers of past environments, of changing climates and the
pulse of life over billions of years. Even the most seemingly
ordinary stone can tell us much about the history of this planet,
opening vistas of ancient worlds of ice, raging floods, strange,
unbreathable atmospheres and prehistoric worlds teeming with life.
Remarkably, many types of rock owe their existence to living
organisms, from the remains of dead animals to rotting ancient
forests, or even the activity of fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Anything but dull and uninteresting, rocks are intriguing portals
that illuminate the secret underworld upon which we live.
The principles of stratigraphic paleobiology can be readily applied
to the nonmarine fossil record. Consistent spatial and temporal
patterns of accommodation and sedimentation in sedimentary basins
are an important control on stratigraphic architecture. Temperature
and precipitation covary with elevation, causing significant
variation in community composition, and changes in base level cause
elevation to undergo predictable changes. These principles lead to
eight sets of hypotheses about the nonmarine fossil record. Three
relate to long-term and cyclical patterns in the preservation of
major fossil groups and their taphonomy, as well as the occurrence
of fossil concentrations. The remaining hypotheses relate to the
widespread occurrence of elevation-correlated gradients in
community composition, long-term and cyclical trends in these
communities, and the stratigraphic position of abrupt changes in
community composition. Testing of these hypotheses makes the
stratigraphic paleobiology of nonmarine systems a promising area of
investigation.
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