First Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals, the latest addition to the popular Struik Nature series, introduces the most important and interesting rocks and minerals from our geologically exciting region.

The guide details 30 minerals and 18 major rock types, focusing on those that are best known or most commonly found. A short introduction provides an overview of the topic; colourful photographs throughout, both of the rocks and minerals and of the particular terrain in which they are found, complement the clear text and aid identification in the field.

First Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals is a useful resource for the beginner geologist, curious novice, or anyone with a budding interest in southern Africa's unique geological heritage.

This is the first published guide to Herkimer diamonds, striking quartz crystals, that includes all important aspects of interest to anyone curious about this unique form of the mineral quartz. Over 210 vivid color images of important specimens, associated minerals, and field shots illustrate the informative text and enhance the reader s experience. The text includes the most recent scientific information regarding Herkimer diamonds' geological and mineralogical history, where they can currently be found, descriptions of important historic locations, and the inclusion of noteworthy peripheral localities. The specific methods used to effectively field collect Herkimer diamonds are detailed, including photos of mining methods and a discussion of collecting strategy. Additionally, the mines are enumerated, the gear readers need is detailed, specimen preparation, mineral collections, and associated minerals recounted. This is the essential guide for every collector of these well known and much sought minerals, a guide only a seasoned field collector can provide."

A profound meditation on climate change and the Anthropocene and an urgent search for the fossils-industrial, chemical, geological-that humans are leaving behind A Times Book of the Year * A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year What will the world look like ten thousand or ten million years from now? In Footprints, David Farrier explores what traces we will leave for the very deep future. From long-lived materials like plastic and nuclear waste, to the 50 million kilometres of roads spanning the planet, in modern times we have created numerous objects and landscapes with the potential to endure through deep time. Our carbon could linger in the atmosphere for 100,000 years, and the remains of our cities will still exist millions of years from now as a layer in the rock. These future fossils have the potential to tell remarkable stories about how we lived in the twenty-first century. Through literature, art, and science, Footprints invites us to think about how we will be remembered in the myths, stories, and languages of our distant descendants. Travelling from the Baltic Sea to the Great Barrier Reef, and from an ice core laboratory in Tasmania to Shanghai, one of the world's biggest cities, David Farrier tells a story of a world that is changing rapidly, and with long-term consequences. Footprints will not only alter how you think about the future, it will change how you see the world today.

A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017

A rich and exuberant group biography of the first geologists, the people who were first to excavate from the layers of the world its buried history.

These first geologists were made up primarily, and inevitably, of gentlemen with the necessary wealth to support their interests, yet boosting their numbers, expanding their learning and increasing their findings were clergymen, academics - and women. This lively and eclectic collection of characters brought passion, eccentricity and towering intellect to geology and Brenda Maddox in Reading the Rocks does them full justice, bringing them to vivid life.

The new science of geology was pursued by this assorted band because it opened a window on Earth's ancient past. They showed great courage in facing the conflict between geology and Genesis that immediately presented itself: for the rocks and fossils being dug up showed that the Earth was immeasurably old, rather than springing from a creation made in the six days that the Bible claimed. It is no coincidence that Charles Darwin was a keen geologist.

The individual stories of these first geologists, their hope and fears, triumphs and disappointments, the theological, philosophical and scientific debates their findings provoked, and the way that as a group, they were to change irrevocably and dramatically our understanding of the world is told by Brenda Maddox with a storyteller's skill and a fellow scientist's understanding. The effect is absorbing, revelatory and strikingly original.

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.

The Cenozoic era began about 70 million years ago and still continues. In British Cenozoic Fossils 354 species from this period are classified and illustrated with accurate line drawings. This new edition has been fully revised and updated by John Todd, Curator of Molluscs in the Natural History Museum's Life Sciences Department, reflecting advances in our understanding of the fossil record over the past years. The book's 88-page identification section features those fossil animal and plant species that are most commonly found in Britain, from early plants, corals and fishes to gastropod and bivalve molluscs and the remains of mammals which lived in Britain during the Ice Ages. Each of the species is illustrated with at least one drawing, which is accompanied by details of where it can be found. There is a brief introduction to the subject, stratigraphical tables that show British Cenozoic rock formations, and a colour map of the distribution of Cenozoic strata.

The Mesozoic era ranged from 240 million to 65 million years ago. In British Mesozoic Fossils 365 species from this period are classified and illustrated with accurate line drawings. This new edition has been fully revised and updated by Dr Andrew Smith, Merit Researcher in the Natural History Museum's Palaeontology Department, reflecting advances in our understanding of the fossil record over the past years. The book's 147-page identification section features those fossil animal and plant species that are most commonly found in Britain, from abundant gastropod and bivalve molluscs to those groups, including ammonites and brachiopods, which are now extinct or relatively rare. Each of the species is illustrated with at least one drawing, which is accompanied by details of where it can be found. There is also a brief introduction to the subject, stratigraphical tables that show British Mesozoic rock formations, and a colour map of the distribution of Mesozoic strata.

Over 90 striking color photos display minerals of the epidote group, well known to mineral collectors for their rich colors and the many interesting minerals with which they occur. Lapidary artists also value epidote, particularly in the form of unakite, and precious or semiprecious varieties of the related mineral zoisite, including thulite and tanzanite, some which have inclusions that allow them to be cut into popular catseyes. This informative book provides all presently known species, detailed entries for each of the eighteen minerals, and extensive locality information. This book will be of interest to those interested in developing a better understanding of silicate minerals.

Did you know that Illinois's state fossil is the weird-looking Tully Monster, which had eyes on a pair of stalks and an elephant-like trunk that ended in a toothed claw? Or that Idaho's state fossil is the stocky Hagerman horse, named for the town where its bones were found? Fossils can be found in every state, and this engaging guidebook brings these ancient organisms to life. Each state entry contains details about the state fossil; an illustration of what the vertebrate, invertebrate, or plant looked like; a photograph or drawing of the fossil; and a state map showing where it can be found. Potential fossil candidates are proposed for states that do not yet have official state fossils, along with instructions on how to get state fossils designated. An appendix lists museums and parks where these fossils can be studied first-hand, making the book a fun resource for fossil enthusiasts and future paleontologists of all ages.

Nothing fills us with a sense of wonder like fossils. What looks at first like a simple rock is in fact a clue that reveals the staggering diversity of ancient environments, the winding pathways of evolution, and the majesty of a vanished earth. But as much as one might daydream of digging a hole in the backyard and finding a Tyrannosaurus, only a few places contain these buried treasures, and when a scientist comes across a remnant of prehistoric life, great care must be taken. What do budding paleontologists need to know before starting their search? In Fantastic Fossils, Donald R. Prothero offers an accessible, entertaining, and richly illustrated guide to the paleontologist's journey. He details the best places to look for fossils, the art of how to find them, and how to classify the major types. Prothero provides expert wisdom about typical fossils that an average person can hope to collect and how to hunt fossils responsibly and ethically. He also explores the lessons that both common and rarer discoveries offer about paleontology and its history, as well as what fossils can tell us about past climates and present climate change. Captivating illustrations by the paleoartist Mary Persis Williams bring to life hundreds of important specimens. Offering valuable lessons for armchair enthusiasts and paleontology students alike, Fantastic Fossils is an essential companion for all readers who have ever dreamed of going in search of traces of a lost world.

Unearth the treasures from the prehistoric world beneath your feet. From glittering ammonites to razor-sharp dinosaur claws and delicate leaf impressions, uncover our world's primeval past through the incredible fossils left behind. Arranged into plants and animals, there are profiles of 50 key fossils, including well-loved favourites, such as Triceratops, and more curious remains, such as fossil fish teeth. Learn all about how fossils form, where they are found, and how ancient animals are reconstructed. Filled with facts and containing recently discovered species, this book will help even the biggest fossil fans learn something new. Stunning photographs can be studied in detail, while pronunciation guides help with tricky names, and a visual index provides a quick overview of all the key species in the book. My Book of Fossils is an engrossing children's book about fossils and dinosaurs, and is sure to be a hit with fact-obsessed young enthusiasts of all things prehistoric.

In recent years, minerals and gems have enjoyed growing renown and popularity. At this time there are some 3,800 different minerals known from all parts of the world that have been deep in the earth for millions of years and grew there over thousands of years. Learn to identify the most important groups of minerals, including quartz, feldspar, beryl, tourmaline, corundum, diamond, garnet, spinel, fluorite, precious metals, and more. More than 150 photos with descriptions relate how minerals originate, are found, and what they signified in ancient times.

With this informative guide, you can explore the mineral-rich state of New York, from the beaches to the mountains. It describes the states' 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 and directions to each site, and lists rockhound clubs in the state. "Rockhounding New York" offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby and is an invaluable sourcebook.

From caverns deep underground to sky-high mountains, the rocks and stones all around us are ancient. Greedy oni lurk in a cave in Japan; a stonecutter becomes a mountain; and a story of romance, revenge and tragedy plays out on the face of a plate. Revealing hidden fossils, gemstones, folklore and secrets, storyteller Jenny Moon's tales are interwoven with interesting facts and geological observations that will catch the imagination of readers young and old, making this more than just a book of stories.

A profound meditation on climate change and the Anthropocene and an urgent search for the fossils-industrial, chemical, geological-that humans are leaving behind A Times Book of the Year * A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year What will the world look like ten thousand or ten million years from now? In Footprints, David Farrier explores what traces we will leave for the very deep future. From long-lived materials like plastic and nuclear waste, to the 50 million kilometres of roads spanning the planet, in modern times we have created numerous objects and landscapes with the potential to endure through deep time. Our carbon could linger in the atmosphere for 100,000 years, and the remains of our cities will still exist millions of years from now as a layer in the rock. These future fossils have the potential to tell remarkable stories about how we lived in the twenty-first century. Through literature, art, and science, Footprints invites us to think about how we will be remembered in the myths, stories, and languages of our distant descendants. Travelling from the Baltic Sea to the Great Barrier Reef, and from an ice core laboratory in Tasmania to Shanghai, one of the world's biggest cities, David Farrier tells a story of a world that is changing rapidly, and with long-term consequences. Footprints will not only alter how you think about the future, it will change how you see the world today.

The amphibole group is extremely important, widespread, and beautiful, with a structure that can accommodate a bewildering variety of compositions and potentially hundreds of unique specimens. This timely volume will allow mineral collectors to understand how the amphiboles are organized and named, and to relate obsolete names to currently accepted ones. Over 140 full-color crystal images help the reader visualize the important structural features that define amphiboles and control their physical properties. This reference also provides information that collectors need to know to better understand the group and to learn what the specimens teach us about geological processes. Structural chemistry and taxonomy of the group is explored as well as formation and geochemistry, explaining the kinds of environments where amphiboles are formed. An entry for each mineral series provides locality information along with identification photos wherever possible, and examples that one might expect to find in the varied locales.

Newly published in a fifth edition, this definitive guide takes the mystery out of appreciating, buying and selling gemstones. It covers everything from the romance and history of more than 1,800 gemstones to their geographic locations; scientific, physical and colour properties; and the way they are formed, structured and mined. The book also fully covers the optical features of gems - light and colour, luminescence, refraction and inclusions - and key information about the densities and chemical elements of each stone, with fascinating details on different cuts, polishing, gems, hardness, cleavage, classification, trade names, rarity and more. There are also many charts and diagrams as well as magnificent colour photographs of the stones with data about them on the facing page. If you want only one book on gemstones in your library, this would be the one!

A complete guide to finding, collecting, and preparing the state's gems & mineralsRockhounding Idaho is a must-have book for anyone interested in collecting rocks, minerals, fossils, and gold in the Gem State. Completely up-to-date with over 200 GPS coordinates in ninety-nine collecting locales, it covers popular and widely known fee-dig operations as well as four-wheel-drive adventures into the desert, and long winding drives through the mountains. The result is a complete and accurate guide to the state's vast riches.The author-a long-time field collector in the Pacific Northwest and an award-winning writer-clearly explains the broad outlines of Idaho's many collecting locales and mining districts, and provides an appreciation for the geology underneath. You can use this guide to plan expeditions straight across the state or to devise looping road trips that cover a single region in great detail. From agates to zeolites, from garnets to gold, Rockhounding Idaho is the ideal resource for rockhounds of all ages and experience levels. Look inside to find:* Maps and detailed site descriptions with directions* Suggested tools and techniques* Land-use regulations and legal restrictions* Information on nearby camping

This book helps the reader identify commom fossils found in Arizona. Includes common vocabulary, examples of fossil forms, and drawings.

A vibrant and richly detailed guide to fossils for readers with a passion for the natural world and those that inhabited it long ago. This is a book for those that want to learn to scan the beach for fossils, who love the simple pleasure of getting outside or those who want to develop their relationship with the world around them. From the Jurassic Coast to the Antrim Coast, our nation is home to some of the most incredible fossil sites in the world. Weaving an intricate tapestry of knowledge on the landscape of our own pre-historic planet, palaeontologist and Education Officer of the Bristol Dinosaur Project, Rhys Charles beautifully communicates the joy of fossil-hunting and where best to hunt for them in the country. Under his guidance, and with The Natural History Museum, this book invites readers to unlock breath-taking fragments of a lost world.