Rocks, minerals and fossils: general interest Books

Book SynopsisThe ultimate introduction to rocks, minerals, and gemstones for kids - and grown-ups too!What are rocks? How do fossils form? Are rocks different across the world? The Rocks Book has all the answers for curious readers, budding geologists - and petrologists! Learn about rocks from space, tips on how to collect rocks sustainably, and discover an epic directory of rocks and minerals to help kids identify treasures found on rock hunting trips.Inside The Rocks Book: An incredible breadth of knowledge about the planet''s many rocks and minerals written in an engaging and informative way for children and grown-ups alike Rocks around the world are explored continent by continent across North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, Oceania, Antarctica, and even Under the Sea Fun sections and features

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Book SynopsisUnearth a prehistoric world with this fascinating first guide to fossils, ideal for helping young children (and parents) to identify some of the most common types found across the United Kingdom. Enjoy learning about nine ancient minibeasts that you can find for yourself: from tentacled ammonites and belemnites, to curiously shaped sea urchins and surprising shell fish! Featuring a foreword by Dr David Waterhouse, an expert palaeontologist (well known for his TV and Radio appearances) and Curator at the University of Cambridge, this pocket-sized beginner''s guide is the must have companion for your next adventure. "Fossil hunting is a fun, exciting and free hobby. It helps us to learn about the history of life on Earth and is a great way to begin to study the natural world. It also keeps us fit and healthy by being outdoors. There's nothing better than finding something that no one has ever seen before. Imagine being the first ever person to hold a fossil shell or sea-sponge that's hundreds of millions of years old now that's really impressive!" - Dr David Waterhouse

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Book SynopsisA revelatory journey from the tin mines of Cornwall to the gold mountains of Georgia in search of the substances which have both shaped our imagination and imperilled our very existence.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect stocking filler for beach lovers. A beautiful little guide to one of life's simple pleasures – pebble spotting. Where science meets mindfulness. Learn to appreciate their beauty, discover the amazing journey that brought them to you, search for the rare ones. Leave no stone unturned. Turn a day on the beach or a seaside holiday stroll into a treasure hunt with this lovely little guide to identifying pebbles. Pebble spotting is one of life’s simple joys. There’s nothing quite like searching the rocks on a beach until that special one catches your eye – a perfect shape, a gorgeous colour, an intriguing pattern. But what is it? Use this beautifully illustrated little guide to find out, and to discover your pebble’s fascinating life story and secrets. It could be even more special than you thought… Geologist and passionate pebble spotter Clive Mitchell has created a charming and wonderfully browsable book that is a perfect companion to a day out or holiday, or an idle moment at home. This book contains entries on 40 different types of pebble, complete with detailed facts about the composite rock’s structure and where to find them, with examples including: Flint Feldspar veins Spotted slates Serpentinite Granite ovoids The rare rhomb porphyry – the holy grail of pebble hunting The book includes a space to ruminate on your own findings, taking note of the treasures that you pick up along the way and discovering the secrets of the stones beneath your feet. The Pebble Spotter’s Guide is the perfect introduction to everything you didn’t know there was to know about the mindful pleasure of pebble spotting and the wonder of pebbles. Simply sit on a beach or next to a stream for 10 minutes and find amazing treasures at your feet; there is much to discover.

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Book SynopsisDid you know culinary salt is the mineral halite? Or that the pigment vermillion is powdered cinnabar, a mineral whose name comes from the Persian for dragon''s blood?Discover the extraordinary mineral treasures that form our planet and that today we use in everything, from makeup and cookery to agriculture and high-tech.Rocks and Minerals is your essential collector''s companion, with illustrated entries on hundreds of minerals, gems, and rocks from actinium to zirconium. Its breathtaking array includes organic minerals, such as pearls and corals, as well as silicates and native elements like gold.Browse to find wonderful gems, including opals, or pyropes - a deep-red garnet the size of a hen''s egg. Rocks and Minerals reveals each mineral''s defining characteristics, and explains how and where they were formed, how they were first identified, their uses, and their chemical composition.Whether you are a geology student, or starti

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Book SynopsisThe Minerals Encyclopedia is unusual for the number of minerals it covers: more than 700 in 448 pages, with a useful glossary, an introduction to mineral collecting, printed front and back flaps that offer quick reference in the field, and a measuring rule on the back cover.

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Book SynopsisDive into an unprecedented survey of millions of years of life on planet Earth. Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life is a beautifully crafted encyclopedia of prehistoric species that the whole family can enjoy. Featuring an incredible mix of 3D reconstructions, extraordinary skeletons, and amazingly intricate fossils, it uses the latest scientific research to recreate a wealth of ancient species, from the earliest primitive life forms to great dinosaurs, early mammals, and even the first humans.This richly illustrated catalogue starts with the first Precambrian microbes and traces the evolution of life through mass extinctions and ice ages. As well as dinosaurs, it features extinct plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, conjuring up a series of past worlds. The book also explores geological time and examines how fossils preserve the story of evolution.In the pages of this unique book of natural history, you''ll find:- A detailed catalogue of over 500 animals, plants, fungi and microbes with illustrations and fact files unmatched by any other book on the market.- A tour of some of the most fascinating fossils and skeletons.- Clear CGI reconstructions give a new life to some of the oldest identified species, allowing you to visualise them as they would have existed on Earth.- Richly annotated artworks displaying geological processes including how Earth formed and how fossils are preserved in rockCombining stunning visuals and clear text, Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life is not only packed with fascinating prehistoric facts and species, it''s beautifully foiled cover will take pride of place on your coffee table! The ideal gift for dinosaur enthusiasts and naturalists of all ages that will be treasured for years to come.

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Book SynopsisChris Pellant has been writing earth science books since the 1980s. These include The Complete Book of Rocks and Minerals, Fossils of the World, and Discover Science: Rocks and Fossils. In addition to his authorial work, he runs a photographic library with his wife Helen, and is a dedicated researcher and conservationist.

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Book SynopsisThe Cenozoic era began about 70 million years ago and still continues. In British Cenozoic Fossils 354 species from this period are classified and illustrated with accurate line drawings. This new edition has been fully revised and updated, reflecting advances in our undcerstanding of the fossil record over the past years.

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Book Synopsis''An engrossing tale of a woman striving for the recognition she deserves in the face of male indifference and betrayal'' SUNDAY TIMES ''Best historical fiction for February 2024''THE ESSEX SERPENT MEETS AMMONITE IN THE STUNNING HISTORICAL NOVEL EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT:''Singular and astonishing . . . I''ve never met a character quite like Ada'' ANNIE GARTHWAITE''The Bone Hunters has cemented Joanne Burn''s place as one of my favourite writers'' SONIA VELTON''Joanne Burn is fast becoming my go-to historical fiction writer'' EMMA CARROLL''The Bone Hunters is that rare combination . . . beautifully written but also a gripping page-turner'' LAURA SHEPPERSON________In 1824, Lyme Regis is as tumultuous as the sea that surrounds it. When twenty-four-year-old Ada Winters - poor, peculiar and brilliant - uncovers a set of unusual fossils on the cliffs, she believeTrade ReviewAn engrossing tale of a woman striving for the recognition she deserves in the face of male indifference and betrayal * SUNDAY TIMES 'Best historical fiction of February 2024' *In Ada, Joanne Burn has given us a singular and astonishing heroine: a woman of strength, intelligence, resilience and resource; a woman who sees the restrictions the world would impose upon her and has the moral courage to step beyond them. Every young woman of ambition - any young woman who feels her ambition impeded either by her gender or class - should read her. I've never met a character in literature quite like Ada - or one I admired more. And it goes without saying that Joanne's writing, her use of language and skilful world-building, go from strength to glorious strength. -- ANNIE GARTHWAITE, author of CECILYI devoured this in a couple of days. So beautifully and brilliantly written. Every word dripped with atmosphere, I absolutely loved it. -- CAROLE MATTHEWSThe Bone Hunters is a beautiful and extraordinary book, bringing to life a time and place in breathtaking detail and lyrical prose. At its heart it is the story of a young woman learning to discover and embrace who she is, and find her place in an unwelcoming world. I fell in love with Ada from the first page. -- ELIZABETH LEE, author or CUNNING WOMENThe Bone Hunters by Joanne Burn is that rare combination, a beautifully written book that is also a gripping page-turner. I was drawn in by the intelligence and passion of the main character, Ada Winters, and read with a growing sense of dread of the dangers, both societal and environmental, that she faces. I adored this novel. Highly recommended. -- LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of THE HEROINESA wonderfully lyrical story of intrigue that spirals into obsession. Based loosely on the Victorian fossil hunter Mary Anning, the story is delicate and beautiful. I loved it. -- POLLY CROSBY, author of THE UNRAVELLINGA beautifully-written tale of obsession, friendship, betrayal, retribution, and love -- ROZ WATKINS author of THE DEVIL'S DICEJoanne Burn is fast becoming my go-to historical fiction writer. The writing is both beautiful and brutal, the pace an incredibly tense, deftly-handled unearthing of something monstrous. A tale of hardships and social misfits and finding liberty in a world designed to deny it. -- EMMA CARROLL, author of ESCAPE TO THE RIVER SEAThe Bone Hunters has cemented Joanne Burn's place as one of my favourite writers. Ada had the same magical combination of vulnerability and grit as the 'Marsh Girl' in Where the Crawdads Sing. This is a gripping and beautifully written tale of a woman fighting for her worth to be recognised. Like the fossils she loves, Ada will leave a lasting impression -- SONIA VELTON, author of BLACKBERRY AND WILD ROSEOnce again, Joanne Burn's flight of imagination takes a real historical context as its starting point, rooting the story and characters in an authentic period setting, vividly realised. Her original, readable prose keeps us in the moment-to-moment lives of her characters, rooting for Ada every step of the way. Enjoyable and satisfying. -- SARAH BURTON author of The Strange Adventures of H and co-author, with Jem Foster, of Eliza MaceThe Bone Hunters is a rich and compelling novel that simultaneously illuminates one fascinating element of history, while fully immersing you in early 19th century life more broadly. Ada Winters is everything I like in a protagonist - eccentric, driven, brave and engaging - and the plot takes you in unexpected and continually rewarding directions -- KATIE LUMSDEN, author of THE SECRETS OF HARTWOOD HALLA perfect historical novel. The Bonehunters is a novel of resistance, of non-conformity; a celebration of passion and curiosity and a glorious tribute to all those truthseekers locked out of the hallowed halls of learning for being the wrong sex or class. I absolutely adored it. -- NIKKI MARMERY, author of LILITHExceptional. A must-read. Exquisitely written, this immersive and fascinating tale will draw you in and leave you reeling. Absolutely outstanding. One of those rare books that you're desperate to charge through to find out what might happen but that you also want to take your time with, savouring every twist and turn and every beautiful paragraph. One to savour and re-read again and again. If this doesn't win all the prizes, I will eat both my hat and yours. -- LIZ HYDER, author of THE GIFTSA gloriously fiery heroine & a propulsive plot make this poetic novel a haunting and vivid page-turner -- CAROLINE LEA author of THE GLASS WOMANI LOVED this book. I loved Ada and her independent spirit, the wild landscapes, the poetry of the language, the sweeping atmosphere, the determination and kindness of the characters. -- REBECCA F. JOHN author of The Haunting of Henry TwistA brilliantly atmospheric and captivating read, steeped in all the drama and discovery of a fascinating period in the history of science. I loved everything about Ada, her hunger and her struggle for recognition - a struggle that is all-too-relevant, even now -- C. E McGILL, author of OUR HIDEOUS PROGENYThe perfect tribute to real-life fossil hunter Mary Anning * WOMAN & HOME *A gorgeously written, expertly plotted tale, The Bone Hunters draws heavily on the life of Mary Anning to create a rich, rewarding exploration of moral regression in the name of scientific advancement * Buzz Magazine *This remarkable story is written with such an open lyrical simplicity your mind cannot help but be immersed in a vivid image-stream, akin to watching an epic work by an Oscar-winning cinematographer. In particular the shorelines, seascapes and weather are excellently described, bringing these, and Ada's bond with them, to glorious life. This is a grand tale of fortitude and determination, superstition, mystery and wonder. Completely enthralling * Historical Novel Society *

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Book SynopsisSnowdonia has a great story to tell, of ancient oceans, mountains, volcanoes and climate change. The mountain landscape of Snowdonia is the result of everything that has happenend to it over geological time - the product of the ancient landscapes that went before it, fragments of which are preserved by rocks and landforms within the present landscape, providing clues of a forgotten past that can be read as you appreciate Snowdonia's wild beauty. The present landscape has also been shaped by the people that have worked the land and exploited its minerals.

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate visual encyclopedia of rocks and minerals, including a detailed directory of 300 specimens.

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Book SynopsisCally Hall is a geology expert and an author of educational guidebooks that make the subject accessible to a variety of readers. In addition to DK Handbook: Gemstones, she has also written science-themed books aimed at younger audiences.

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Book Synopsis*Top 10 Sunday Times bestseller*The Pebbles on the Beach was first published in 1954. This newly reissued edition includes a foreword by Robert Macfarlane. There is a handy illustrated guide to identifying pebbles on the reverse of the book jacket.Pebble-hunting is a pleasant hobby that makes little demand upon one''s patience and still less upon one''s physical energy. (You may even enjoy the hunt from the luxurious sloth of a deck chair). One of the true delights of the pebble-seeker is to read the stories in the stones - to determine whence and by what means they came to be there. We must always bear in mind that a pebble is a transient thing. It is in the half-way stage of a long existence . . .This is a book about the simple pleasure of pebble spotting. Clarence Ellis is a charming, knowledgeable and witty guide to everything you didn''t know there was to know about pebbles. He ruminat

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Book Synopsis'Astounding ... To call this a "history" does not do justice to Helen Gordon's ambition' Simon Ings, Daily Telegraph 'Awe-inspiring ... She has imbued geological tales with a beauty and humanity' Shaoni Bhattacharya-Woodward, Mail on Sunday The story of the Earth is written into our landscape: it's there in the curves of hills, the colours of stone, surprising eruptions of vegetation. Wanting a fresh perspective on her own life, the writer Helen Gordon set out to read that epic narrative. Her odyssey takes her from the secret fossils of London to the 3-billion-year-old rocks of the Scottish Highlands, and from a state-of-the-art earthquake monitoring system in California to one of the world's most dangerous volcanic complexes in Naples. At every step, she finds that the apparently solid ground beneath our feet isn't quite as it seems.Trade ReviewThe reward of Helen Gordon's profoundly considered and far-reaching book is that it opens up the dizzying view of geological time ... Notes from Deep Time reaches into a place that, in a post-religious era, offers a glimpse of something close to eternity -- Philip Marsden * FT *Astounding ... To call this a "history" does not do justice to Helen Gordon's ambition. Her adventures in the deep time of Earth hark all the way back to its beginnings as a barren ocean planet, 4.4 billion years ago, while keeping one foot firmly planted in the depleted and desertified plaything we're left with today ... Notes From Deep Time sidesteps the maundering and finger-wagging that comes with much Anthropocene thinking, and shows us how much sheer intellectual and poetical entertainment there is to be had in the idea -- Simon Ings * Daily Telegraph *Awe-inspiring ... It's Gordon's background as a literary writer that takes Notes From Deep Time to the next level. She has imbued geological tales with a beauty and humanity -- Shaoni Bhattacharya-Woodward * Mail on Sunday *Notes From Deep Time is a marvel-rich masterclass of narrative non-fiction, one of those books that teaches its reader to see the world completely differently. That it does so with wit, wisdom and crystal-perfect prose only adds to the pleasure. To escape from the present into deep time with such a companionable guide is clarifying, almost therapeutic, and at times gratifyingly dizzying -- Max Porter, author * Lanny *If there were ever a good time to think about deep time, it's now ... A whirlwind tour of our planet's deep past and far future ... succeeds in grounding our existence firmly in the context of geological time -- Alexandra Witze * Nature *Helen Gordon's wonderfully expansive book encompasses a paradoxical fluidity, both tangible and immense, where human witnesses measure out deep time in golden spikes and ammonites, excavating lost seas and saurians for clues as to what we were and who we will be -- Philip Hoare, author * Leviathan *A book as multi-layered as the deep-time planet itself -- Sara Wheeler, author * Terra Incognita *Sublime ... a fascinating and thrilling descent into time, human in scale but full of moments of vertiginous wonder -- Jon Day, author * Homing *Helen Gordon's terrifically readable book juxtaposes scenes from deep Earth time with telling accounts of how geologists forensically analyse the evidence for this enormous narrative - and looks to the future, too, as humans make their own additions to the planet's strata. Highly recommended -- Jan Zalasiewicz, author * The World in a Pebble *Questing, thoughtful and profoundly moving, Notes From Deep Time is a remarkable TARDIS of a book -- Dan Richards, author * Outpost *A sparkling book that humanises the pre-human era. In her journey from the Earth's molten Hadean beginnings to our Holocene age, Gordon delivers stratigraphic revelations through the stories of the intriguing individuals who have brought their mysteries to light -- India Bourke * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisDive into the fascinating world of coastal wildlife with this holiday pocket guide. Featuring 40 beautifully illustrated pebbles, shells, crabs, small sea creatures and more, discover more about life between the tides with The Little Guide to Shorelines. Each entry has been delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics, and is accompanied by associated facts and fables. There is also an interactive spotter's guide at the back, where you can check off what you find. This informative, practical and beautiful guide is part of a new nature series designed to encourage creativity through exploring the outdoors. An activity for adults and children alike, enjoy The Little Guide to Shorelines on your next trip to the sea.

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Book SynopsisHazel Richardson is an author and editor of science books with a background in science research. She's the author of 16 books, including Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals, Life in the Ancient Indus River Valley, and Life in Ancient Japan.

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Book SynopsisAstonishing, studio-quality photographs of beautiful objects and specimens bring every corner of the planet, from core to atmosphere, to the printed pageElegant design combined with beautiful images to explore and explain Earth's natural riches. This is an informative, visually arresting introduction to planet Earth. The core of the book features large, detailed photographs of single objects, many of them small enough to be held in the hand, that each speak volumes about an aspect of Earth's environments and how they work. For example, bubbles of ancient air trapped inside an Antarctic ice core reveal how Earth's climate has changed over time. A piece of pumice thrown several miles into the air by a volcano helps to explain what happens when tectonic plates collide. The book is structured around an imaginary journey that takes the reader from the inner core to Earth's surface (including both land and oceans) and up to the top of the atmosphere. Taking in environments such as grassl

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Book SynopsisThe essential illustrated rocks and minerals guide.Learn how to identify rocks and minerals and appreciate the beauty of the natural world with Rocks & Minerals: An Illustrated Field Guide. Expert geologist Dr. Evelyn Mervine takes you through 50 profiles of these natural materials, including their characteristics, chemical compositions, occurrences, and key identifiers.Take a deep dive into geology and learn all about rocks and minerals, including: Granite Limestone Meteorite Quartz Diamond Gold And many, many more!Complete with a glossary of terms and beautiful illustrations by Vlad Stankovic, this visually stunning book is a must-have for rock hounds and geologists alike.

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Book SynopsisThe characteristic landscape of the Lake District is influenced by its geology. The huge array of different rocks found there determines the shape and appearance of the fells and dales. Also, as the dominant building material in the region, rocks impact both the local architecture and the economy through quarrying. A simple easy-to-read guide to the rocks of the English Lake District, with nearly 200 colour illustrations including diagrams, maps and photographs, this book provides an understanding of the main types of rock and characterizes over sixty of the most common rocks. It describes where to find them and how to recognise them in the landscape. Details are given of the use of rocks in local buildings and how the rocks are still quarried today, and finally, their importance to the local economy.

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Book SynopsisWhales are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. We have hunted them for thousands of years and scratched their icons into our mythologies. They simultaneously fill us with waves of terror, awe and affection yet we know hardly anything about them.Whales tend to only enter our awareness when they die, struck by a ship or stranded in the surf. They evolved from land-roaming, dog-like creatures into animals that move like fish, breathe like us, can grow to 300,000 pounds, live 200 years and roam entire ocean basins. Yet despite centuries of observing whales, we know little about their evolutionary past.Palaeontologist Nick Pyenson takes us to the ends of the earth and to the cutting edge of whale research as he searches for the answers to some of our biggest questions about these graceful giants. His rich storytelling takes us deep inside the Smithsonian's unparalleled fossil collection, to frigid Antarctic waters, and to the arid dTrade Review‘If you don’t care about whales you should still read Spying on Whales. I didn’t give two hoots about them last week but after reading Pyenson’s book, I’m obsessed. Pyenson writes engagingly … this is a lively survey of the past, present and future of these magnificent animals … great stuff.’ The Times ‘Spying on Whales represents the best of science writing. The subject is inherently fascinating, the author is an authentic scientist by virtue of his personal research on the subject, and the text reads like the epic it truly is.’ Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-winner and New York Times bestselling author of The Origin of Creativity and The Meaning of Human Existence ‘Reading Spying on Whales leaves a strong impression, based on the principles of ecology, evolution and physiology, that a world including whales seems awesomely improbable. And, of course, wonderful. Nick Pyenson guides us through this world, and in the process achieves that rare state of grace for a writer of science – producing prose that is both scientific and beautiful. This is a moving, informative, evocative book.’ Robert Sapolsky, author of Behave

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Book SynopsisRevealing the incredible diversity of fossilised plants and animals preserved for millions of years, this book profiles 300 examples of the most common and fascinating fossils, using an entry by entry approach. By including examples from all of the major variety of fossilised life, from preserved trees and grasses to molluscs, trilobites, fish and dinosaurs, Fossils offers a truly comprehensive overview of fossils from every continent and gives a sense of the huge amount of natural history available to us in the fossil record. Each fossil is illustrated with a clear and informative colour photograph, accompanied by informed and accessible text. The fossilised plants and animals are grouped by order, then within each order by family (and, where necessary, within each family by subfamilies). For easy reference, each entry includes a table of information on scientific name, order and family, habitat, distribution, geological period and dimensions.Table of ContentsIntroduction Plants Invertebrates Vertebrates Glossary Timeline Index

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Book SynopsisDistant relatives of modern lobsters, horseshoe crabs, and spiders, trilobites swam the planet's prehistoric seas for 300 million years, from the Lower Cambrian to the end of the Permian eras - and they did so very capably. This is a revealing guide to these surreal arthropods of ancient Earth.Trade Review"Now at last we have a book that reveals in exquisite detail and admirable depth the nature of the most fascinating of ancient life: the trilobites.... This extraordinary group of primitive arthropods deserves wider appreciation, and I can think of no better way to find out more about them than to purchase a copy of this book, open it up, and just drink in page after page of pure trilobites." (Natural History)"

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Book SynopsisUnearthing the Underworld reveals the hidden world of rocks - the secret-keepers of past environments, of changing climates and the pulse of life over billions of years. Even the most seemingly ordinary stone can tell us much about the history of this planet, opening vistas of ancient worlds of ice, raging floods, strange, unbreathable atmospheres and prehistoric worlds teeming with life. Remarkably, many types of rock owe their existence to living organisms, from the remains of dead animals to rotting ancient forests, or even the activity of fungi, bacteria and viruses. Anything but dull and uninteresting, rocks are intriguing portals that illuminate the secret underworld upon which we live.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Lunar Living comes the ultimate guide to crystals and how they can help you live your best life.This is the one book you need in order to understand how crystals can enhance your everyday life and look after you.In Part 1, Kirsty explores what crystals are, how they work, before going on to explain how you choose, care for and programme them, and how to go about using them. Then, in Part 2, Crystals for Self-Care delves deeper into the many areas in which crystals work their magic. Chapters include Crystals for Love and Relationships, Crystals for Stress and Anxiety and Crystals for Work and Business.Crystals for Self-Care will leave you feeling empowered, supported and ready to embark on your own crystal journey!

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Book SynopsisThe Mesozoic era ranged from 240 million to 65 million years ago. In British Mesozoic Fossils 365 species from this period are classified and illustrated with accurate line drawings. This new edition has been fully revised and updated, reflecting advances in our understanding of the fossil record over the past years.

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'A delightful storybook . . . a portrait of our whole world created from the contents of the ground' Literary Review'A real cabinet of curiosities' Sunday TimesFrom the hematite used in cave paintings to the moldavite that became a TikTok sensation; from the stolen sandstone of Scone to the unexpected acoustics of Stonehenge; from crystal balls to compasses, rocks and minerals have always been central to our story.3,000 years ago Babylonians constructed lapidaries - books that tried to pin down the magical secrets of rocks. In Lapidarium, renowned art critic Hettie Judah explores the unexpected stories behind sixty stones that have shaped and inspired human history, from Dorset fossil-hunters to Chinese philosophers, Catherine the Great to Michelangelo.Discover why alchemists sought cinnabar and sulphur. Unearth the mystery of the tuff statues of Rapa Nui, the lost amber room of Frederick of Prussia and the scandal of Flint Jack. Find out how a Greek monster created coral, moon rock explains the history of Earth's only satellite and obsidian inspired the world's favourite computer game. Stone by stone, story by fascinating story, Lapidarium builds into a dazzling, epoch-spanning adventure through human culture, and beyond.

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Book Synopsis New to rockhounding or ready to ramp up your skills? This contemporary guide to rock collecting goes beyond the where and how to include info on environmental impact, land stewardship, and building a truly meaningful collection.Do you love rocks and gems? Are you a geology enthusiast? This informative guidebook by professional lapidary artist and outdoor recreation guide Alison Jean Cole shows you that beautiful rocks can be found anywhere. You''ll be expertly guided through the practice of rockhounding (looking for rocks) while learning how to be gentle on the earth. Unlike traditional rock guides, which take readers to well-trodden locations in each state, this book can be used anywhere in the United States or Canada. You''ll be guided through the process of becoming an adept rockhound, including:- How to read geologic maps and way-find - How to consider the ethics of rock collecting - Developing your personal tastes in rocks and building a collection

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Book SynopsisAccess the healing energy of 200 crystals and harness their power to unlock your true potential and turn your every dream and desire into reality with this new go-to guide to crystals!Discover the powerful properties of crystals and connect with their spell-binding energy to activate and charge the magical energy that surrounds you, to enrich your life with everything your heart desires. Find out which crystals hold the key to your optimum health, happiness, and harmony whilst connecting with their energy to clear and focus your mind and bring positive vibrations, self-knowledge, healing, and talismanic guidance into your every day. Unlock their power to cleanse the energy in your home, bring clarity and focus to your work, and enhance connection in your relationships.Proving the ideal crystal book for beginners, dive in and you''ll find:-A full directory of 200 crystals, alongside practical information about what they

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Book SynopsisIn this fully revised and updated edition of British Paleozoic Fossils 443 species from this time are described and classified and illustrated with accurate black-and-white line drawings. Reflecting advances in our understanding of the fossil record, it features those animal and plant species that are most commonly found in Britain.

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Book SynopsisPlant remains can preserve a critical part of history of life on Earth. While telling the fascinating evolutionary story of plants and vegetation across the last 500 million years, this book also crucially offers non-specialists a practical guide to studying, dealing with and interpreting plant fossils. It shows how various techniques can be used to reveal the secrets of plant fossils and how to identify common types, such as compressions and impressions. Incorporating the concepts of evolutionary floras, this second edition includes revised data on all main plant groups, the latest approaches to naming plant fossils using fossil-taxa and techniques such as tomography. With extensive illustrations of plant fossils and living plants, the book encourages readers to think of fossils as once-living organisms. It is written for students on introductory or intermediate courses in palaeobotany, palaeontology, plant evolutionary biology and plant science, and for amateurs interested in studyinTrade Review'… affording quick access to the world of fossil plants to any interested reader. Their direct approach is refreshing, making the book eminently useful for the basic identification of fossil plants, in some cases down to species-level determinations … Undergraduate students willing to read this book will quickly gain a core understanding of an important subject that is rarely included in today's college curriculum.' P. K. Strother, Choice'This edition is great for everyone interested in fossils, plants, and (specially) fossil plants, being especially useful for those starting to study plant evolution and paleobotany. It may also be of interest for everyone who ever found a piece of petrified wood and wanted to learn more about it, and about all of the wonderful and strange plants that inhabited the earth a long time ago.' Andrés Elgorriaga, Plant Science BulletinTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Highlights of palaeobotanical study; 3. Studying plant fossils; 4. Early land plants; 5. Lycophytes; 6. Sphenophytes; 7. Ferns; 8. Early gymnosperms; 9. Modern gymnosperms; 10. Angiosperms; 11. The history of land vegetation.

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Book SynopsisA profound meditation on climate change and the Anthropocene and an urgent search for the fossilsindustrial, chemical, geologicalthat humans are leaving behindA Times Book of the Year A Daily Telegraph Book of the YearWhat will the world look like ten thousand or ten million years from now?In Footprints, David Farrier explores what traces we will leave for the very deep future. From long-lived materials like plastic and nuclear waste, to the 50 million kilometres of roads spanning the planet, in modern times we have created numerous objects and landscapes with the potential to endure through deep time. Our carbon could linger in the atmosphere for 100,000 years, and the remains of our cities will still exist millions of years from now as a layer in the rock. These future fossils have the potential to tell remarkable stories about how we lived in the twenty-first century.Through literature, art, and science, Footprints invites us to think about how we will be remembered in the myths, sTrade Review‘Fascinating’ Margaret Atwood on twitter ‘What do we owe to the world that comes after us? In this superbly researched and imagined book, David Farrier invites us to expand our sense of deep time to include the deep future’ Caspar Henderson, author of A New Map of Wonders ‘Footprints bears witness to the hastening catastrophe of the Anthropocene, illustrating not just the permanence of the traces humans leave behind, but also the impermanence of the human. Profound, urgent, transformative, it is a remarkable book.’ James Bradley, author of Ghost Species ‘Mr Farrier’s prose glitters … As Mr Farrier notes, even if pollution and consumption ceased tomorrow, their effects would take millennia to unwind. Human life is etched into the fossil record for aeons to come. “The challenge is to learn…to examine our present by the eerie light cast by the onrushing future.” His subtle, elegant book rises to that challenge’ Economist ‘It is an oddly hopeful exploration of deep time and a world doing just fine without us.’ New Scientist ‘Farrier races through the past and makes brief stops in the present before soaring into the deep future, all the while exploring our capacity as human beings to leave traces behind us … It echoes many of the concerns of nature writers such as Kathleen Jamie, Katharine Norbury and Robert Macfarlane, but from a different coign of vantage. Farrier is less nature writer an more ‘smart thinker’ … At its best, there are moments when the eye of the poet and the analyst come together in memorable flight’ Literary Review ‘All decent people want to be remembered well. In the ancient world, moral life was often seen as the effort to be a good ancestor. If that’s how you see things, David Farrier’s brilliant, plangent book will leave you gasping with shame. Our grandchildren (if any survive) will look back on us with contempt’ The Oldie, Charles Foster

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Book SynopsisCosmochemistry is a rapidly evolving field of planetary science and the second edition of this classic text reflects the exciting discoveries made over the past decade from new spacecraft missions. Topics covered include the synthesis of elements in stars, behaviour of elements and isotopes in the early solar nebula and planetary bodies, and compositions of extra-terrestrial materials. Radioisotope chronology of the early Solar System is also discussed, as well as geochemical exploration of planets by spacecraft, and cosmochemical constraints on the formation of solar systems. Thoroughly updated throughout, this new edition features significantly expanded coverage of chemical fractionation and isotopic analyses; focus boxes covering basic definitions and essential background material on mineralogy, organic chemistry and quantitative topics; and a comprehensive glossary. An appendix of analytical techniques and end-of-chapter review questions, with solutions available at www.cambridge.oTrade Review'Cosmochemistry deserves a wide distribution as a text for undergraduate and research students. Indeed, the book is worthy of the American Astronomical Society's Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award given for textbooks at either the upper-division or graduate level.' David L. Lambert, The ObservatoryTable of Contents1. Introduction to Cosmochemistry; 2. Nuclides and Elements – The Building Blocks of Matter; 3. Origin of the Elements; 4. Solar System and Cosmic Abundances – Elements and Isotopes; 5. Presolar Grains – A Record of Stellar Nucleosynthesis and Processes in Interstellar Space; 6. Meteorites and Interplanetary Dust – A Record of Nebular and Planetary Processes; 7. Element Fractionations by Cosmochemical and Geochemical Processes; 8. Stable-Isotope Fractionations by Cosmochemical and Geochemical Processes; 9. Radioisotopes as Chronometers; 10. Chronology of the Early Solar System; 11. The Most Volatile Elements and Compounds – Ices, Noble Gases, and Organic Matter; 12. Planetesimals – Leftover Planetary Building Blocks; 13. Chemistry of Planetesimals and Their Samples; 14. Geochemical Exploration – The Moon and Mars as Case Studies; 15. Cosmochemical Models for the Formation and Evolution of Solar Systems; Appendix: Analytical Techniques Commonly Used in Cosmochemistry; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Tomb of the Mili Mongga lives up to its magnificent billing' DAILY TELEGRAPH-A fossil expedition becomes a thrilling search for a mythical beast deep in the Indonesian forest and a fascinating look at how fossils, folklore, and biodiversity converge.A tale of exciting scientific discovery, The Tomb of the Mili Mongga tells the story of Samuel Turvey''s expeditions to the island of Sumba in eastern Indonesia. While there, he discovers an entire recently extinct mammal fauna from the island's fossil record, revealing how islands support some of the world's most remarkable biodiversity, and why many of these unique endemic species are threatened with extinction or have already been lost.But as the story unfolds, an unexpected narrative emerges Sumba's Indigenous communities tell of a mysterious wildman called the ''mili mongga'', a giant yeti-like beast that supposedly lives in the island's remote forests. Trade ReviewA thoughtful and approachable scientific travelogue stuffed with mystery, humor, and ... monsters? You'll never think about fossils in the same way again! A must read. * Beth Shapiro *Turvey's gripping adventures are a quest to understand human consciousness and explore the differences between cultural truths and scientific facts. * Richard Fortey *Part travelogue and part science, Samuel Turvey’s The Tomb of the Mili Mongga seeks out those elusive links between the present and the past, between fossils and folklore, and brings the reader along on an unexpected journey of discovery. * Steve Brusatte *Like a marvellous combination of H Rider Haggard and Gerald Durrell … Turvey brings fascinatingly diverse scholarship to bear, from theories of species extinction to joyous readings in folklore and anthropology. * Daily Telegraph *Table of ContentsPrologue: Anselm and Gaunilo Chapter One: Splendid Isolation Chapter Two: Sumba, East of Java Chapter Three: Glutton-Granny Chapter Four: Storytelling Chapter Five: Rodents of Unusual Size Chapter Six: Tulang Junkie Chapter Seven: The Wall of the Mili Mongga Chapter Eight: An Interlude with Giant Rats Chapter Nine: The Island of the Day Before Chapter Ten: They Might Be Giants Chapter Eleven: The Perfect Island – A Fairy Tale for Biologists Acknowledgements Notes Index

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Book Synopsis

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