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Title: A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, Jeffrey Scovil ISBN: 0-395-91096-X Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 15 January, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.67 (3 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: a great handbook but a cheap binding
Comment: This is the definitive handbook for the rockhound. Nicely updated with more and better pictures to help in identification of rocks and minerals. Too bad that Peterson's decided to save a nickel on the binding -- my copy of "Rocks and Minerals" was splitting out within a week.
I've had other Peterson's Field Guides which were softcover but HARD bound. These are useful handbooks that will last a lifetime.
If you buy a cheap paperback to read once, the binding isn't of much concern. A "field guide" deserves better.
The "Cambridge Guide to Minerals Rocks and Fossils" is just about as good, is about the same price, and has sewn in pages.
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent book for serious rock hounds & geology students
Comment: This book is arranged according to the mineral classifications, which is good if you know your minerals. The mineral testing section (flame tests, bead tests, etc.) is not found in very many field guides. As a professional Geologist, I would recommend this to other geologists, not to rock hounds. The National Audubon Society's field guide is better for rock hounds; there are more photos and they are arranged by color. The Audubon's minerals are still by classification, but the testing information is not included.
Rating: 5
Summary: A classic useful to beginners and experts alike.
Comment: This Field Guide has been, and still is, The classic and useful Field Guide. Despite its title, this is mainly oriented toward minerals. Well organized and interestingly written, this is one of the few mineralogy texts which is both readable for enjoyment, and useful to both the beginner and the expert.
Part I includes an introduction on the philosophy and adjuncts of the collecting and study of minerals, briefly reviews geology and its rocks, discusses the physical properties of minerals (such as may be used to help distinguish the various species), introduces crystallography, a chemical classification of minerals written for the layman, and finally Tests, Techniques, and Tips, with many useful down-to-earth hints.
Part II is Mineral Descriptions, each one with name, formula, crystal system, and visual aids in the plates which include both diagrams and photographs. Several headings in each description are in boldface: Environment, Crystal description, Physical properties, Composition, Tests, Distinguishing characteristics, Occurrence, and Interesting Facts.
Also includes glossary, bibliography, index. Well organized and accurate, this little book has been used by some amateur mineralogists who, although using several more technical books during years of study, still find this one useful. Although another well-known text is the most commonly used one for college mineralogy courses, I have recommended that students also get a copy of the Field Guide. For the amateur exercising a bit of Emersonian self-reliance in the testing of his own specimens, this Field Guide is one of the very few remaining guides including good Tests (which have actually been tried before including them) under each species. Appeals to collectors to first try a few tests on extra material before turning specimens over to others such as over-burdened professionals. Also appeals to study some phase of the subject for ones' own edification and enjoyment, as one will get as much out of it as he or she puts into it. This Field Guide shows you how.
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Title: Encyclopedia of Rocks, Minerals, and Gemstones by N, A, Chris Pellant, Henry Russell ISBN: 1571455620 Publisher: Thunder Bay Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.98 |
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Title: Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals (Smithsonian Handbooks) by Chris Pellant, Helen Pellant, Harry Taylor ISBN: 0789491060 Publisher: DK Publishing Pub. Date: 01 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY ISBN: 0394502698 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 12 May, 1979 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Simon & Schuster ISBN: 0671244175 Publisher: Fireside Pub. Date: 15 November, 1978 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: Rocks, Gems and Minerals : A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press by Paul R. Shaffer, Herbert S. Zim, Raymond Perlman ISBN: 1582381321 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 14 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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