With stunning photos on every page and informative, relevant captions, this book answers essential questions such as how and where minerals form; why some are rarer than others; how they are mined and how they are used to advance technology. Plus there are fun and important facts, such as if you pass electricity through quartz, it shakes at a regular pace - which is why many watches contain a tiny quartz crystal, to keep them ticking evenly. And did you know rhodium is far more expensive than gold (it is used in cars' catalytic converters, which cut down the pollution from exhausts). Plus, find out what gives some minerals their fabulous colours and why some form intricate patterns and shapes.
