Rocks & Minerals

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 importanceStarting 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.Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the amazing world beneath our feetStunning 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 EarthSee 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 platinumLearn 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 jewelleryDiscover 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 The EarthWhat are rocks and minerals?How rocks are formedWeathering and erosionRocks on the seashoreIgneous rocksVolcanic rocksSedimentary rocksLimestone cavesMetamorphic rocksMarbleThe first flint toolsRocks as toolsPigmentsBuilding stonesThe story of coalFossilsRocks from spaceRock-forming mineralsCrystalsThe growing crystalThe properties of mineralsGemstonesDecorative stonesLesser-known gemsOre minerals and metalsPrecious metalsCutting and polishingCollecting rocks and mineralsIndex