What is the toughest mineral on Earth? What are meteorites made of? Which rock forms long, hairlike strands? Learn how to find and identify different rocks, minerals, and fossils with this handy spotters guide. Search for precious metals, compare different rocks from all over the world, and identify everything from serpentine to slate. This book will get kids outdoors, helping them learn about the natural world and become a rock spotting expert!

For the times when you’re driving past a lumpy, bumpy field and you wonder what made the lumps and bumps; for when you’re walking between two lines of grand trees, wondering when and why they were planted; for when you see a brown heritage sign pointing to a ‘tumulus’ but you don’t know what to look for… Entertaining and factually rigorous, Hidden Histories will help you decipher the story of our landscape through the features you can see around you. This Spotter’s Guide arms the amateur explorer with the crucial information needed to ‘read’ the landscape and spot the human activities that have shaped our green and pleasant land. Photographs and diagrams point out specific details and typical examples to help the curious Spotter ‘get their eye in’ and understand what they’re looking at, or looking for. Specially commissioned illustrations bring to life the processes that shaped the landscape - from medieval ploughing to Roman road building - and stand-alone capsules explore interesting aspects of history such as the Highland Clearances or the coming of Christianity. This unique guide uncovers the hidden stories behind the country's landscape, making it the perfect companion for an exploration of our green and pleasant land.

Did you know that some drivers go over boulders instead of around them? Rock crawling vehicles have huge wheels that can grip rocks and help the cars climb steep slopes. The sport is all about precise driving. At rock crawling events, you might see cars crossing wide chasms, driving down steep slopes, and finding the best way around tough obstacles. Sometimes you'll even see cars tumble end over end down a hill! Enter the Dirt and Destruction Sports Zone to learn about the history, strategies, competition rules, and the best drivers connected to rock crawling. You'll learn: ? When and where the first-ever rock crawling competition took place. ? What tools and strategies the drivers and spotters use to overcome obstacles. ? Why rock crawlers try to get the lowest score possible. ? How to stay safe in a vehicle perched on the edge of an enormous boulder. Are you into sports? Then get in the zone!

Here for the first time in one place is everything you will ever need to know in order to survive just about any difficult or dangerous situation. Drawing from dozens of the U.S. Army's official field manuals, editor Jay McCullough has culled a thousand pages of the most useful and curious tidbits for the would-be soldier, historian, movie-maker, writer, or survivalist—including techniques on first aid; survival in the hottest or coldest of climates; finding or building life-saving shelters; surviving nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks; physical and mental fitness, and how to find food and water anywhere, anytime. With hundreds of photographs and illustrations showing everything from edible plants to rare skin diseases of the jungle, every page reveals how useful Army knowledge can be.

What is overlanding? Wikipedia states, "Overlanding is self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principal goal. Typically (but not exclusively), it is accomplished with mechanized off-road-capable transport (from bicycles to trucks) where the principal form of lodging is camping. It often lasts for extended periods of time (months to years) and spans international boundaries." Overlanding did not originate in America, and it is a little different here. You would be hard-pressed to find a bicycle out in the desert, and most people don’t stay out there quite that long. However, the spirit of the activity is the same. Do you want to give overlanding a try? Great! You will need some gear. In The Overlanding Vehicle Builder’s Guide, veteran racer, off-roader, and journalist Don Alexander provides a terrific overview of what to consider when building your overlanding rig. This includes the planned duration of the trip, the number of people in your party, how far off the beaten path you want to go, and the creature comforts you require. Understanding those wants and needs shapes what gear you need for the best experience. Covered are the strengths and weaknesses of the types of vehicles themselves, modifications to the vehicles to make them more capable, accessories (lighting, camping gear, food and water storage, etc.), and equipment for trail mishaps and recovery. Driving techniques and trail rules and etiquette are also included. If you are ready to build a rig or just want to know more about the hobby, this book is a great guide to help you get started.

Turn a day on the beach or a seaside holiday stroll into a treasure hunt with this lovely little guide to identifying pebbles. Pebble spotting is one of life’s simple joys. There’s nothing quite like searching the rocks on a beach until that special one catches your eye – a perfect shape, a gorgeous colour, an intriguing pattern. But what is it? Use this beautifully illustrated little guide to find out, and to discover your pebble’s fascinating life story and secrets. It could be even more special than you thought... Geologist and passionate pebble spotter Clive Mitchell has created a charming and wonderfully browsable book that is a perfect companion to a day out or holiday, or an idle moment at home. This book contains entries on 40 different types of pebble, complete with detailed facts about the composite rock’s structure and where to find them, with examples including: Flint Feldspar veins Spotted slates Serpentinite Granite ovoids The rare rhomb porphyry - the holy grail of pebble hunting The book includes a space to ruminate on your own findings, taking note of the treasures that you pick up along the way and discovering the secrets of the stones beneath your feet. The Pebble Spotter’s Guide is the perfect introduction to everything you didn’t know there was to know about the mindful pleasure of pebble spotting and the wonder of pebbles. Simply sit on a beach or next to a stream for 10 minutes and find amazing treasures at your feet; there is much to discover.