Treasure Hunting

Another one of my favorite books that is perfect for someone just starting out in rock collecting is Smithsonian Rock and Gem.  Even though it’s great for the beginner, it contains a lot of information that’s useful for people of all levels of experience.  I’m pointing it out here because a friend recently told me that he’d always been interested in rocks and minerals but had no idea where to start.

First off, you’re just not going to find many 360-page, full-color books at this price.  The normal list price is $19.95 US, but you can pick it up on Amazon for $13.57 right now.  It’s definitely a high-quality publication with each page having numerous color photographs.  In the rock and gem identification portion, samples of both rough and polished stones are included so you can get an idea of what both varieties look like.  In addition, there are sections in the book on geology, history, and methods of mineral identification.  There’s also a nice section for those who are curious about getting started into rock collecting which outlines the type of tools you will need, resources you can turn to, and where to look for specimens.