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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Rocks, minerals & fossils
The unique fossils featured in Caves of the Ape-Men were excavated
at cave-sites which today are clustered within the first World
Heritage Site to be proclaimed in South Africa under the auspices
of UNESCO. This title includes excellent visuals of the area, a
brief account of its history, and an accessible assessment of its
importance for understanding the emergence of hominids – the
early creatures transitional between the great apes and man –
and, later, some of the earliest representatives of our own
species. The publication is based on short text boxes interspersed
with illustrations of key fossil specimens as old as four million
years. Also included are reconstructions of how these hominids
might have appeared and the dramatic landscapes within which they
were discovered. Three scientific books on different aspects of the
Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site have appeared recently. As
Sterkfontein is the richest single fossil hominid site in the world
it deserves to be promoted as one of the foremost tourist
attractions in Africa, along with half a dozen other local sites
also immensely rich in fossil specimens. Together, these sites
proclaim South Africa as one of the key areas which saw the
emergence of human ancestors in the distant past. The Cradle of
Humankind clearly meets the criterion of an internationally
acclaimed destination to which justice should be accorded in a
volume, containing high quality visuals while at the same time
informing the visitor and providing an accurate account, which will
be treasured forever.
A comprehensive pocket guide to dinosaurs and prehistoric animals
and the world they inhabited millions of years ago. Packed with
more than 700 full-colour illustrations, this definitive pocket
guide paints a vivid portrait of extraordinary dinosaurs and
prehistoric animals, and the ecosystems they lived in millions of
years ago. Journey back in time and discover the incredible lives
and habitats of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and
prehistoric beasts. This fascinating guide explores every era of
prehistoric life, from the Precambrian and Palaeozoic eras, when
animals first began evolving to the Jurassic and Mesozoic era,
which first saw the flourishing and then the eventual extinction of
the dinosaurs. Learn more about prehistoric animals and the world
they inhabited millions of years ago through detailed profiles of
200 dinosaurs and other ancestors of modern animals. These profiles
are jargon-free and based on the latest science. This dinosaur
encyclopedia is filled with crystal-clear artwork and photographs,
fossils, and replica models showing the unique features of the
different species. A Visual Guide to 200 Dinosaurs and Prehistoric
Animals Part of the relaunched series of the popular DK Handbooks,
this fact-filled book features a refreshed design and updated
content. Packed with jaw-dropping images, fascinating dinosaur
facts and straight-forward explanations, it's the perfect gift for
budding palaeontologists of all ages or geology students. Inside
the pages of this dinosaur encyclopedia from DK Books, you'll
discover: - Maps indicating the location of where each animal's
fossils have been found - Illustrations detailing the size of each
animal in comparison to humans - Detailed, jargon-free profiles of
200 species with fun facts for quick reference
Mineral collecting by amateur “rockhounds” has never been more
popular. Old quarries, road cuts, and exposed landscapes are being
examined by new generations of minerals enthusiasts. Each needs a
comprehensive guidebook with clear photographs and accurate data.
This is it. In a thick but handy format, more than 700 different
minerals and rocks are grouped by colour (for ease of location in
the book) — blue, red, yellow, brown, green, white and black
crystals; brown and grey sedimentary rocks; and meteorites for
anyone lucky enough to find one. Each has a picture – four to a
page—opposite detailed but clear data: Chemical formula;
Hardness; Colour; Density; Lustre; Cleavage; Fracture; Tenacity;
Crystal form; Similar minerals and where they are likely to occur.
And many will have a diagram of its crystal form—up to four, for
fluorite, for example. The Minerals Encyclopedia is unusual for the
number of minerals it covers: more than 700 in 444 pages, with a
useful glossary, an introduction to mineral collecting, and printed
front and back flaps that offer quick reference in the field, and a
measuring rule on the back cover. This is a superior reference for
rockhounds, geology students and outdoors people with an interest
in what’s under their feet.
Distant relatives of modern lobsters, horseshoe crabs, and spiders,
trilobites swam the planet's prehistoric seas for 300 million
years, from the Lower Cambrian to the end of the Permian eras--and
they did so very capably. Trilobite fossils have been unearthed on
every continent, with more than 20,000 species identified by
science. One of the most arresting animals of our pre-dinosaur
world, trilobites are also favorites among the fossil collectors of
today, their crystalline eyes often the catalyst for a lifetime of
paleontological devotion. And there is no collector more
devoted--or more venerated--than Riccardo Levi-Setti. With "The
Trilobite Book," a much anticipated follow-up to his classic
"Trilobites," Levi-Setti brings us a glorious and revealing guide
to these surreal arthropods of ancient Earth.
Featuring specimens from Bohemia to Newfoundland, California to
the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and Wales to the Anti-Atlas
Mountains of Morocco, Levi-Setti's magnificent book reanimates
these "butterflies of the seas" in 235 astonishing full-color
photographs. All original, Levi-Setti's images serve as the
jumping-off point for tales of his global quests in search of these
highly sought-after fossils; for discussions of their mineralogical
origins, as revealed by their color; and for unraveling the role of
the now-extinct trilobites in our planetary history.
Sure to enthrall paleontologists with its scientific insights and
amateur enthusiasts with its beautiful and informative images, "The
Trilobite Book" combines the best of science, technology,
aesthetics, and personal adventure. It will inspire new collectors
for eras to come.
Pebble-hunting is a pleasant hobby that makes little demand upon one's patience and still less upon one's physical energy. (You may even enjoy the hunt from the luxurious sloth of a deck chair). One of the true delights of the pebble-seeker is to read the stories in the stones - to determine whence and by what means they came to be there. We must always bear in mind that a pebble is a transient thing. It is in the half-way stage of a long existence . . .
This is a spirited guide to the simple pleasure of pebble spotting. Clarence Ellis is a charming, knowledgeable and witty guide to everything you didn't know there was to know about pebbles. He ruminates on what a pebble actually is, before showing us how they are formed, advising on the best pebble-spotting grounds in the UK, helping to identify individual stones, and giving tips onthe necessary kit. You'll know your chert from your schist, your onyx from your agate and will be on your guard for artificial intruders before you know it. Understanding the humble pebble makes a trip to the beach, lake-side or river bank simply that little bit more fascinating.
A handy illustrated guide to identifying pebbles is included on the reverse of the book jacket.
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!
A beautiful guide to Earth's wildlife and natural history,
including its rocks, minerals, animals, plants, fungi,
microorganisms and more! Introducing The Natural History Book - a
complete guide to the nature and wildlife of our world and written
by a worldwide team of natural history experts. In the 11 years
since the book was originally released, thousands of new species
have been identified, and new revelations have redrawn the tree of
life. Already featuring galleries of more than 5,000 species, The
Natural History Book has since been updated to include dynamic
discoveries such as the olinguito (the "kitty bear" of the Andean
cloud forest), and a new species of deep-sea Bolosoma glass sponge
photographed by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, alongside a
reorganization of the groups of living things to reflect the latest
scientific understanding. Explore each and every page of this
stunning nature book to discover: - A full-colour gallery of over
5,000 species - Over 500 rocks, minerals and fossils featured
throughout - Includes glossary of important natural history terms -
Specially-commissioned photographs showcase wildlife in close-up
detail This treasure-trove of natural history is accompanied with
easy-to-read, accessible information and beautifully-striking
imagery, making it a riveting reference guide to pass down for
generations to come. The only book to offer a complete visual
survey of all kingdoms of life, this nature book for adults is the
perfect addition to every family bookshelf, as well as an ideal
gift for the nature, animal and plant lover in your life!
Gardeners, hikers, and visitors to wildlife park and natural
history museums alike would also love this niche nature book, which
also doubles up as the perfect coffee table book. Split into 6 core
chapters, covering Living Earth, Minerals, Rocks and Fossils,
Microscopic Life, Plants, Fungi, and Animals - there truly is
something for everyone to explore, love and learn. From granites to
grape vines, from microbes to mammals, The Natural History Book is
the ultimate celebration of the diversity of the natural world.
When fossils of birds from China's Jehol region first appeared in
scientific circles, the world took notice. These Mesozoic
masterpieces are between 120 and 131 million years old and reveal
incredible details that capture the diversity of ancient bird life.
Paleontologists all over the world began to collaborate with
Chinese colleagues as new and wondrous fossil-related discoveries
became regular events. The pages of National Geographic and major
scientific journals described the intricate views of feathers as
well as food still visible in the guts of these ancient birds. Now,
for the first time, a sweeping collection of the most interesting
of Jehol's avian fossils is on display in this beautiful book.
Birds of Stone makes visible the unexpected avian diversity that
blanketed the earth just a short time (geologically speaking) after
a dinosaur lineage gave rise to the first birds. Our visual journey
through these fossils is guided by Luis M. Chiappe, a world expert
on early birds, and Meng Qingjin, a leading figure in China's
natural history museum community. Together, they help us understand
the "meaning" of each fossil by providing straightforward
narratives that accompany the full-page photographs of the Jehol
discoveries. Anyone interested in the history of life-from
paleontologists to inquisitive birders-will find Birds of Stone an
irresistible feast for the eyes and mind.
Take a trip through the ages and the world to uncover a unique
stone with amazing properties. In this well-researched book,
readers discover amber and the products made from it, especially
jewelry. The easy-to-read format and over 320 color photographs and
drawings make it both informative and appealing. The fascinating
history of this ancient and unusual stone is explained, and
identification methods, origins, amber products, carving
techniques, and care tips are among the invaluable information
included. Interesting mysteries, concerns, and triumphs about amber
and a discussion of its cost are presented. Mineral and rock
collectors, history buffs, and jewelry lovers all will enjoy this
freshly compiled and up-to-date reference.
The mechanisms of magma movement, chemical differentiation and
physical development, are derived from the geochemistry of igneous
rocks, and from studying exposures of deep magmatic systems that
have since solidified and been uplifted and exposed at the Earth's
surface. The Ferrar Magmatic System of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in
Antarctica provides an unparalleled example of a complete
magmatic-volcanic system exposed in unprecedented detail. This book
provides a unique and usual three-dimensional detailed examination
of this system, providing insight into many magmatic processes
normally unobservable, in particular how basaltic magma moves
upwards through the crust, how it entrains, carries and deposits
loads of crystals from great depths, and how this all contributes
to Earth's evolution. Providing an explanation of how magmatic
systems operate and how igneous rocks form, this is an invaluable
resource ideal for researchers and graduate students in magma
physics, igneous petrology, volcanology, and geochemistry.
Dinosaurs weren't the only "players" on the earth during the
Triassic and Jurassic geologic periods, a fact quickly proven with
415 impressive color photos of fossilized plant, animal, and avian
life from that distant past! Presented along with dinosaur fossils
large and small, are collectible ammonites, belemnites,
crustaceans, and insects, also an impressive representation of
Triassic and Jurassic fossil plants, including Araucarian conifers,
cycads, and crinoids. Dinosaur tracks, "stomach stones," and
coprolites are also presented.The detailed text provides a
wonderful overview of the range of Mesozoic period fossils by
period found around the globe, discusses the ever evolving field of
fossil collecting, and explores fossils represented at nineteenth
and twentieth century world's fairs. Anyone with a passion for
fossil collecting, paleontology, and the Earth of our distant past
will treasure this authoritative volume.
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.
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