Rocks and minerals are the very building blocks of the world around us. To study them is not just to understand their usefulness - and often their beauty - but the evolution and structure of the earth itself. This handbook is a practical and richly illustrated guide. It provides an overview of the fundamentals of geology - plate tectonics, volcanoes and the variety of different processes of rock formation - and explains the composition and structure of minerals. It also explores the technologies involved in mining and the art of gemstone cutting.
From this background the book gives practical advice on how to acquire tools, methods of cataloguing and where to search for samples. This is followed by authoritative illustrated field guides. It is an enjoyable and invaluable book for anyone interested in the composition and structure of the earth.
