A richly illustrated volume directed to gemologists and serious gem collectors.

This is the story of one man's endeavor to discover precious gems and to lead a life filled with loyal friends and extraordinary adventures. He finds it all in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan but not without risking his life. In this book Gary W. Bowersox spins his tales of thirty two years of discovery both introspective and worldwide. Along the way he encounters danger and intrigue as he builds lasting friendships. He has traded gems and stories with Afghan miners, ethnic peoples, freedom fighters, government officials, scientist, and on a few occasions, international spies.

Follow in the footsteps of successful gem and gold hunters and search the hills for rough diamonds, colored gemstones, lapidary minerals, precious metals and interesting minerals and rocks. Written for the geoscientist, prospector and rockhound; the first part of the book focuses on physical characteristics of gems and minerals. This is supplemented with the second part of the book that describes dozens upon dozens of colored gem, diamond, gold, mineral and rock localities using the Public Land Survey System and GPS coordinates so the reader can visit these sites on a home computer with aerial and satellite imagery to gain an understanding of what to look for in the field. With these same coordinates, the reader can visit some occurrences, deposits and areas suggested for prospecting to further their gem hunter prospecting education and potentially lead to new discoveries. Now you can learn what to look for when searching for Mother Nature's treasure.

The definitive book for anyone wanting to learn how the best gemologists in the world evaluate precious gems, and what makes one stone merely a good stone versus a truly fabulous museum-quality gem. The author, Richard W. Wise, is one of the world's foremost gemologists.

Gem hunting can be like playing the geological lottery. You may spend hours performing backbreaking work and pay fees for access to mine tailings only to find a few semiprecious stones that aren't worth much. Another person may randomly reach into a pile of dirt and pull out a diamond worth thousands of dollars. Looking for interesting gems and crystals can be a rewarding hobby, even if you don't hit the jackpot. Many recreational gem hunters enjoy spending time outdoors, learning about geology and hanging out with their gem-hunting friends. Whether you're new to gem hunting or a seasoned pro, this new book provides in-depth information on some of the Earth's most sought after precious and semi-precious gemstones.