The colors, shapes and properties of minerals vary from the bland to the magnificent. Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils is a practical and authoritative handbook that is both comprehensive and easy to use.

Each of the 600 specimens is shown in full color, sometimes in two or more forms. There are also drawings that show the structure of the crystalline specimens. It covers the basics like granite, as well as oddities like meteorites and tektites.

Fossils include sponges, corals, arthropods, brachiopods, and fossil land plants.

Each is described in detail, with notes on: - color and transparency - grain size - hardness - structure - occurrence - mineralogy - distinguishing features - habit - cleavage - texture - alteration - luster

Mineral names, chemical formulae and structural data accord to international standards. This is a very complete, but attractive and useful volume in a respected series.

Amateur Geologist note: This book originally was published by Cambridge under the title of Cambridge Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils with this description: Whether hiking along a mountain trail, setting up camp in the field, or working in a garden, this is the definitive resource for anyone interested in identifying the rocks, minerals, or fossils they come across. Easily portable and with nearly 250 illustrations, with 145 in full-color, Cambridge Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils is an indispensable handbook for amateur collectors and specialists alike. For each mineral, the authors explain and list the physical and optical properties, from crystal systems, hardness and fracture to color, transparency, and luster. They also discuss the occurrence of each mineral, as well as handy tips on their distinguishing features. For each type of rock, the Guide lists the color, color index, grain size, texture, structure, mineralogy, and field relations. In addition, for each fossil, the authors provide their corresponding type, age, and geographical distributions, along with detailed descriptions of their sizes and shapes. The clear, informative illustrations help elucidate technical concepts that often befuddle amateur collectors.