The Minerals Encyclopedia: 700 Minerals, Gems and Rocks

i rockhound and this book has very good info and help with identification

My interest in the subject of rocks and minerals is both scientific and spiritual. For me, the best book that introduced me to the subject with easy to understand scientific and spiritual use descriptions as well as the requisite gorgeous color photography is "Crystals" by Jennie Harding. I would highly recommendthis book as a beginners book for both its scientific and spiritual perspectives.But as you get hungry for more, then's the time to purchase the National Audubon Society "Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals" book. From a solely scientific perspective, besides so many helpful photos, descriptions, glossary of terminology, etc., there are detailed sections on minerals/crystals and stone (granites, horneblends, etc.) Filled with technical but very helpful details on identification and collection, if you want to investigate the subject from strictly an academic or collector's pov, make this your initial purchase.As you go deeper, you may find your scientific interest as well as the continued visual appeal of the subject may continue stimulating you into finding out even more about crystals and other minerals and rocks. That's the time to purchase this beauty of a book. Written from an academic perspective for other mineralogists, the descriptors are extremely helpful with the accompanying photo examples. Often the same mineral will appear in different colors and thus is represented in various sections; this is very helpful for identification purposes when crosschecking for species ID. A cool feature: there is even a small section on meteorites. A Master's level book and must have for mineralogy enthusiasts. Buy all three of these books and you'll never need another reference on the subject and hobby.

Beautiful book with awesome photos & information for avid gem, crystal, & rock collectors.

Loads of information, beautiful pictures. Streak test information and the gemstones are categorized by streak color. Crystal form identification, Morphology, origin, hardness, accessory minerals, simular minerals they can be confuses with and so much more. If you want to learn about the mineral itself, and not looking metaphysical properties like most books, then this book is for you.

This is very very technical, which means it really is an encyclopedia. You won't find anything under common names. You won't find "amythest" for example. But it is definitely very thorough if you're looking for a very scientific book about minerals.

If you're into crystal's, minerals, geology or anything of that nature this book is a must for your collection. I have a lot of different books about crystals and minerals and this one is by far my favorite. The pictures and the text are outstanding. So worth the price.

This book is perhaps the largest collection of gemstones, rocks, and minerals you'll find on Amazon. I have looked through the table of contents for many books related to this topic and this book probably has the most content.Each item in the book is described by its geometric class, color, luster, hardness, chemical composition, brittleness, origins, and similarities with other items.It's truly a fascinating book with all of the really clear pictures. I purchased this as a gift for someone who really enjoys knowing all of this and I am thinking about getting it for myself.

If you're a rock hound, or just like minerals in general, this book is a must. It's compact, but has an insane ammount of information. Information that'll help you greatly in identifying the different rocks and minerals in your collection.

As the owner of Devil n Dove, I can confidently say that "The Minerals Encyclopedia: 700 Minerals, Gems, and Rocks" is an indispensable resource for our workshop. This comprehensive guide is perfect for identifying and learning about the various minerals, gems, and rocks we work with in our jewelry making and crafting projects. The detailed descriptions and high-quality images make it easy to understand the properties and uses of each material. It's become our go-to reference book for ensuring we use the right materials for our creations. Highly recommend this encyclopedia to anyone in the field of gemology or craftsmanship!

Beautifuly issued book on high quality paper with high quality print and photos.It's easy to read and learn your basics about minerals and rocks. It have every mineral you would ever encounter on your hikes or search. I highly recommend this book

Great reference material for my young grandson who has an interest in geology -brilliant colour photography!

Came on time and in good condition. Had great quality and was sturdy. Very informative on crystals and rocks along with their properties. Is very detailed and has a picture for each one. I recommend it to anyone who loves crystals and learning about them.

This is a very much needed up to date book about minerals. A handy encyclopaedia that covers minerals, rocks and gems, also meteorites for completeness. With some 700 different kinds of minerals and 800 colour images, this book covers all the common mineral species, plus an extensive range of the rarer attractive minerals that will delight. A wide range of images is included with common species having several images each covering the different varieties encountered. Overall, this is a superb guide for all collectors, both beginners and the more advanced. Treat yourselves folks!