Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification - Values - Lapidary Uses

by Patti Polk

Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals Easy Identification Values Lapidary Uses by Polk, Patti. Published by Krause Publications,2010, Paperback

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Geology, Gemstones, Reference

Paperback

First published April 15, 2010

Reviews

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was little my parents gave me a rock collection sampler. It had about 2 dozen compartments with labeled rock samples and a booklet that talked about the properties of each one. I remember thinking that rose quartz was quite lovely, as was the bright yellow sulfur sample. I don't remember actually reading the booklet -- I think I was too young-- but I remember the rocks and I have always liked collecting stones on my travels, I have jars of rocks collected on beaches and I love stone jewelry.

This book is like having the Academy of Sciences rock museum on my Kindle and my Chromebook. It is a neat reference with pictures, a rock solid glossary, and bibliography. It inspires me to examine my jam jats of stones and do some rock taxonomy.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a reference book than a reading book, but as a reference book is it really poorly organized. Beginners particularly might be lost as the glossery is rather poor. Throughout the book that author refers to crystal structures and the Mohs scale which are explained on page 183. I had just enough knowledge to get some information from the book, but not enough to completely understand some of the distinctions the author was trying to make between specimens. This was definitely aimed at a more experienced user.

[Cheryl Davis]

Great reference book!

[Flower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book 2010.