Covering rocks and minerals form around the world—from brilliant Brazilian Aquamarine to Wulfenite from Arizona's Red Cloud Mine—this unique guide was created for the serious mineral enthusiast or rock collector. Rocks and Minerals fills the gap between academic texts and popular books by providing a magnificent rock and mineral catalog in glowing color, plus tips on where they are found.· Hundreds of illustrations of rocks and minerals· Molecular structure and idealized crystals also pictured· Classification follows the system preferred by experts· Includes hardness, crystallization, chemical properties, and superb background informationUsing clear text and detailed illustrations, Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press present accurate information in a handy format for the beginner to the expert. These guides focus on what your students are really going to see. They are easy to use: detailed, full-color illustrations, text, and maps are all in one place. They are easy to understand: accurate, accessible information is simplified without being misrepresented. They are authoritative, containing up-to-date information written experts and checked by specialists. And they are portable: handy and lightweight, designed to fit in a pocket and be carried anywhere.