Here are some books about gems and minerals that you can purchase right from the links on this page! Click on the pictures or titles to order. Simon and Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals Practical, concise, and easy to use, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals contains everything that the rock and mineral enthusiast needs to know. This field guide is divided into two large sections -- one devoted to minerals and one to rocks, each prefaced by a comprehensive introduction that discusses formation, chemistry, and more. All 377 entries, beautifully illustrated with color photographs and helpful visual symbols, provide descriptions and practical information about appearance, classification, rarity, crystal formation, mode of occurrence, gravity of mineral, rock chemistry, modal classification fields, formational environments, grain sizes of rocks, and much more. About 10 years before his death in 1253, the Arabic judge and scholar Ahmad al Tifaschi wrote a work on precious stones that seems surprisingly advanced even to today's gemologists. It covers 25 stones, describing their crystallographic forms and such physical properties as specific gravity, hardness, luster, dispersion, and inclusions. Abul Huda translates the book into English and notes its relevance to readers interested in geology, gemology, mineralogy, Arab heritage, and Islamic art. Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR National Audubon Society Field Guide to North-American Rocks and Minerals Perfect for mountain climbers and hikers, this valuable reference covers more rocks and minerals in North America than any other available guide. 794 full-color photographs depict all the important rocks, gems, and minerals -- in many variations of color and crystal form -- and the natural environments in which they occur; written descriptions provide information on field marks, similar rocks and minerals, environment, areas of occurrence, and derivation of names. Includes a guide to mineral collecting and a list of rock-forming minerals Vernon, an Australian university professor, encourages readers to take a closer look at the "beautiful and variable" yet routinely overlooked rocks that surround us. In a volume as rich in photographs as it is in lucent commentary, Vernon eschews technical terms as he conducts a brisk but solidly educational discussion of the earth's amazing dynamism. His clear explanation of how the earth's mantle and crust maintain a state of flow, or constant slow motion, is effectively illustrated with striking photographs of folded rock formations in Antarctica and Australia, images that are then compared to dazzling microscopic views of the structures of various rocks. Vernon explicates the mechanics and consequences of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and he explains how water and glacial ice shape rock and how limestone, fossils, and diamonds are formed. Finally, an appreciation of meteorites rounds out this laudable effort to train readers' eyes to see rocks not as ordinary but as the splendid products of our "hot" planet's vigor. Donna Seaman no picture available Addresses the question of why particular opaque minerals have colors we see--not only the color seen in plane polarized light, but also the colors of anisotropic minerals viewed between crossed or slightly uncrossed polars. Beginning with an explanation of the physiological aspects of color perception and the CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) numerical color specification, the text goes on to examine in detail the physics of the interaction of light with minerals and how the optical properties of sections can be explained in terms of the dispersion of the relative permittivity tensor. A major part of the book contains descriptions of the crystal structures and optical properties of some 170 ore minerals and, where known, their electronic structures. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or. This is a great little book packed with information you will need out in the field. Introduction to Mineral Sciences In this introduction to modern mineralogy for undergraduate students, the main, and often complex, concepts required to understand minerals and the processes that take place within them are presented without any complex mathematical principles. Introduction to Mineralogy is a modern, introductory mineralogy book that provides detailed descriptions of over 100 minerals. It discusses classical crystallography, chemical bonding, controls on mineral structure, mineral stability, and crystal growth, providing readers with a solid foundation to help them better understand the nature and occurrence of minerals. Meteorites and Their Parent Planets Meteorites and Their Parent Planets provides an engrossing overview of a highly interdisciplinary field--the study of extraterrestrial materials. The second edition of this successful book has been thoroughly revised, and describes the nature of meteorites, wher e they come from, and how they get to Earth. The first edition was immensely popular with meteorite collectors, scientists and science students in many fields, and amateur astronomers. Everyone with an interest in meteorites will want a copy of this book. Mineral Science A textbook for a first undergraduate course in the topic, organized around the theme of crystal chemistry as the elucidation of the relationship among the chemical composition, internal structure, and physical properties of crystalline matter. Contains more material than can be covered thoroughly in a year, balancing concepts and principles with a more systematic and descriptive treatment. Dana published the 1912 and 1929 editions himself; Wiley picked up the ball in 1941. The latest edition is the same as the 1993 with the exception of updated references and data, some corrections, and the addition of a CD-ROM with interactive tutorials and references to them from the text. Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Peterson's Field Guide Rocks and Minerals This book describes and illustrates the most common and interesting rocks and minerals, from simple sandstone to exotic gems. Illustrated with dozens of beautiful color photographs, it tells how these rocks and minerals formed and how to identify them--and includes tips on collecting. 175 color photographs, 12 line drawings. Peterson's Guide to Rocks and Minerals (First Guide Series) Written and designed for the beginner, this book describes and illustrates the most common and interesting rocks and minerals, from simple sandstone to exotic gems. Illustrated with dozens of beautiful color photographs, it tells how these rocks and minerals formed and how to identify them--and includes tips on collecting. 175 color photographs, 12 line drawings.
Whether you are a serious collector or an information-seeking amateur, this incomparably beautiful, authoritative guide will prove an invaluable reference.
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Provides specific knowledge about minerals and helps students develop the intellectual tools essential for a solid, scientific education. DLC: Mineralogy. 
Provides an overview of a highly interdisciplinary field - the study of extraterrestrial materials. Describes the nature of meteorites, where they come from, & how they get to Earth. Paper. DLC: Meteorites.
The classic in the field since 1848, this extraordinary reference offers readers unsurpassed coverage of mineralogy and crystallography. The book is known for it's complete coverage of concepts and principles with along a more systematic and descriptive treatment of mineralogy. The revised edition now includes a CD-ROM to let readers see the minerals and crystals, while also viewing chemical composition, symmetry, and morphological crystallography.
