A COMPLETE REFERENCE WORK ON COLLECTING AND FASHIONING MINERALS

Minerals and Gemstones brings together in one fully comprehensive volume detailed information on all mineral types. The nature, occurrence and particular properties of the minerals are described and tabulated for easy reference. The chemistry and geological factors that determine the incidence of minerals and gemstones are explained and methods are given for testing and recognizing samples. In addition the techniques for polishing and fashioning stones are described simply and clearly, whether you want to build your own grinding and tumbling machine or to know how to cut an emerald.

The text has been written by specialists and the hundreds of colour photographs are supplemented with clear explanatory diagrams. This is a book that will delight all those fascinated by gems, while for the enthusiastic mineral collector and the experienced lapidary it will prove an invaluable work of reference.