A comprehensive, illustrated identification guide for beginners and serious collectors alike, featuring special color photography of specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London. Rocks and minerals are naturally occurring compounds formed by intense geological processes in the Earth's crust such as volcanic eruptions. With striking color photography of rocks and minerals from around the globe, this detailed and easy-to-use guide is designed to help readers identify specimens and begin collecting. Fully fact-checked by the Department of Mineralogy at the Natural History Museum, London, this guide will give you geological knowledge at your fingertips.

An introduction to the American Museum of Natural History's collection, and a concise guide to minerals and gems. The book displays 300 specimens from the museum's collection while also explaining the fundamental properties of minerals and gems.

A landmark in reference publishing and overseen and authenticated by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, Natural History presents an unrivaled visual survey of Earth's natural history. Giving a clear overview of the classification of our natural world-over 6,000 species-Natural History looks at every kingdom of life, from bacteria, minerals, and rocks to fossils to plants and animals. Featuring a remarkable array of specially commissioned photographs, Natural History looks at thousands of specimens and species displayed in visual galleries that take the reader on an incredible journey from the most fundamental building blocks of the world's landscapes, through the simplest of life forms, to plants, fungi, and animals.

Discusses the different kinds of rocks and minerals, how they are formed, and their various uses.

Describes hundreds of minerals and lists their geographic distribution, physical properties, chemical composition, and crystalline structure.

A comprehensive introduction explains how and where to find rocks and minerals, and makes identification of specimens simple.