Locations of fossils in the U.S., cataloging, and preserving.

A lovely and loving piece of work, both an introduction to the hobby of fossil collecting and a beautifully illustrated field guide, with the author's drawings of some 450 fossil specimens and descriptions of 46 specific sites in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia where they can be found. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Discover how fossils are formed, and where they are found around the world.

Fossils of the World is a comprehensive, practical guide to every aspect of collecting and studying fossils. The book is divided into three sections. Section one is a brief, illustrated introduction that explains how fossils were formed, the classification of fossils, and the principles of nomenclature. This section also discusses ontogenesis, variability and phylogenesis, as well as palioecology and paliogeography. Section two is a systematic survey of fossil organisms illustrated with around 800 photographs and some 300 line drawings. Each kingdom and phylum of fossils is preceded by a brief introduction and each fossil is described in detail. Section three covers the collection, preparation, and preservation of fossils and includes stratigraphic tables.

This superb visual directory profiles some of the most fascinating fossils on the planet, with fine photographs of some of the world's best specimens. Over 300 generic groups are named, described and dated. These fossilized organisms are divided into three biological groups: plants, invertebrate animals, and vertebrate animals. With over 600 illustrations showing the complex, intricate process of fossilization as well as the appearance of the living organisms, here is a book to inspire and educate. This handbook provides an informative and accessible approach to the subject that will encourage budding fossil-hunters to trace the remnants of ancient life.

Buy this book at your own risk. It will destroy your illusions, but may haunt you in your dreams. It will tell you why fossil hunting is worth your time, but why you never get rich with it. It will tell you how to swing your hammer and why you have to keep an open ear when collecting close to a quarry wall. It will tell you how to collect with your children and why it is a bad idea to dig for dinosaurs in Alberta. You will learn that your old dividers from school are excellent preparation tools and that putting a name on a fossil is the least important thing you have to worry about. Stay away if you mind occasional mature language and political incorrectness. Get it when you want a short guide to fossil collecting and you have really absolutely no idea how to start with it.

This illustrated reference presents over 400 plant and animal fossils from around the globe, and explains how to identify them. The text also provides a guide to finding, classifying, dating, cleaning, collecting and understanding fossils.