A comprehensive, illustrated identification guide for beginners and serious collectors alike, featuring special colour photography of specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London. Rocks are minerals are naturally occurring compounds formed by intense geological processes in the Earth's crust such as volcanic eruptions. With striking colour photography of rocks and minerals from around the globe, this detailed and easy-to-use guide is designed to help readers identify specimens and begin collecting. Fully fact checked by the Department of Mineralogy at the Natural History Museum, London, this guide will give you geological knowledge at your fingertips.

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.

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.

Pack up your gear and get ready to go on a dig. Whether it's iron ore, dazzling gemstones, or a prehistoric creature preserved in amber, exciting discoveries await budding paleontologists and geologists in this informative book. Large and detailed full-color spreads, complemented by clear, concise text unearth the mysteries of rocks, crystals, minerals, and fossils––how they are formed, where they are found, and how they are used. Includes an illustrated glossary and an index to sharpen the young reader's reference skills.

Make science accessible with this essential series that will capture children's imagination while laying the foundation for future learning. With clear, simple language and a compelling design, Discover Science gives young readers the answers to fundamental questions about animal homes, birds, light and sound, materials, and more.

The rocks and minerals beneath our feet are often ignored, overlooked or misunderstood. This dazzling collection of specially commissioned photographs opens our eyes to their amazing beauty, variety and importance.

Starting with the physical composition of the Earth, the book explains how rocks and minerals are classified and how they are formed. Discover how landscapes evolve, how cave systems develop, how the sand and pebbles of the seashore originate, and how and where precious minerals, metals, and gems are mined.

Produced in association with the Natural History Museum, London, Rock & Mineral is a compelling introduction to the Earth's geology and how we use its natural resources for building, industry, energy, sculpture, coins, and jewellery.

• Stunning colour photographs of rocks, fossils, minerals, precious metals, crystals, jewels, and gemstones give the reader a unique 'eyewitness' insight into the evolution and composition of the Earth
• See rocks that have come from outer space; stalactites as old as dinosaurs; the strange and beautiful shapes of natural crystals; priceless nuggets of gold, silver and platinum
• Learn what the Earth is made of - and how its rocks were formed; how early man made the first flint tools; how diamonds and precious stones are cut, polished and made into jewellery
• Discover how prehistoric animals are preserved today as fossils; how volcanoes work, and how rocks are formed from molten lava; how minerals and metals are mined; how pebbles on the seashore are worn down into sand