Rocks, minerals and fossils: general interest Books

Book SynopsisA 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.Trade Review"A beautifully illustrated and very interesting little guide." - Tristan Gooley

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

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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 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 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 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 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 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 SynopsisThis book explains the structural relationships among di- and ring silicate minerals, known for their hardness and brilliant colors, and the geological conditions that create the beautiful crystals prized by collectors. The minerals are arranged systematically to emphasize how they fit into structural groups, and generously illustrated with nearly 600 structure diagrams, color photos, and drawings. An extensive bibliography includes a broad range of easily accessible references ranging from the foundational literature and original species descriptions to reports on current scientific research.

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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 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 SynopsisNew and updated edition 2019: A guide to fossils of the world and fossil hunting, including how to plan a field trip, with a fully illustrated directory of more than 375 fossils.

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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 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 SynopsisA rockhound's must-have resource! Easy to use and lavishly illustrated, this new and completely revised and expanded edition of Collecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals is designed with beginners in mind, yet filled with valuable technical information for seasoned collectors. This guide takes you from being simply someone who enjoys rocks to a knowledgeable enthusiast in no time and features:   • An easy-to-use, quick reference format arranged by category and color of stone   • 800+ beautiful color photographs   • Values and tips for locating, buying and collecting   • Both lapidary and mineral display materials   • Decades of rock-collecting know-how of the authorForeword by Johann Zenz, world-renowned agate expert, author and lecturer.

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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 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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Book Synopsis“Kurlansky finds the world in a grain of salt.” - New York Times Book ReviewAn unlikely world history from the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the WorldBest-selling author Mark Kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions.  Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Salt is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

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Book SynopsisInspired by the lapidaries of the ancient world, this book is a beautifully designed collection of true stories about sixty different stones that have influenced our shared historyThe earliest scientists ground and processed minerals in a centuries-long quest for a mythic stone that would prolong human life. Michelangelo climbed mountains in Tuscany searching for the sugar-white marble that would yield his sculptures. Catherine the Great wore the wealth of Russia stitched in gemstones onto the front of her bodices. Through the realms of art, myth, geology, philosophy and power, the story of humanity can be told through the minerals and materials that have allowed us to evolve and create. From the Taiwanese national treasure known as the Meat-Shaped Stone to Malta’s prehistoric “fat lady” temples carved in globigerina limestone to the amethyst crystals still believed to have healing powers, Lapidarium is a jewel box of sixty fa

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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 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 SynopsisWeird Dinosaurs examines the latest breakthroughs and new technologies radically transforming our understanding of the distant past. Pickrell opens a vivid portal to a brand new age of fossil discovery, in which fossil hunters are routinely redefining what we know and how we think about prehistory's most iconic and fascinating creatures.Trade ReviewThis history of the discovery of some of the most outlandish creatures that ever lived, and the excitement of paleontological research, will be sure to both entertain and instruct. No other such historical narrative exists that is focused on weird extinct beasts. -- Spencer Lucas, author of Dinosaurs: The Textbook, sixth edition Fascinating... Readers learn of beautiful opalised dinosaur bones from Australia and a crested dinosaur found approximately 13,000 feet up Antarctica's Mt. Kirkpatrick, demonstrating that dinosaurs were widely distributed across the globe. Publishers Weekly In the 26 years since Jurassic Park was released we have unearthed about 75 per cent of all known dinosaur species... Weird Dinosaurs is a tour de force through the latest digs across the planet. It features the amazing people unearthing new fossils and highlights the odd reptiles that roamed all corners of the earth millions of years ago. -- Marcus Strom Sydney Morning Herald Australian Geographic editor John Pickrell brings us up to date with Weird Dinosaurs, using the species' often bizarre features as a giddy hook. Some had bat-like wings, some had elaborate neck frills, others shock with how large (or small) they were. Pickrell spends a lot of time on quests of individual fossil hunters and he shifts the focus from traditional fossil destinations such as North America to current hotspots China, Mongolia and Antarctica. -- Doug Wallen The Big Issue, Australia Weird Dinosaurs is an informative and entertaining text with a nice blend of narrative and scientific fact... the facts and information included are simply fascinating. Sharon the LibrarianTable of ContentsWorld Map Foreword, by Philip Currie Introduction: A New Golden Age for Dinosaur Science 1. Monster from the Cretaceous Lagoon: The Sahara, Egypt 2. All Hail the Dino-Bat: Hebei Province, China 3. Dwarf Dinosaurs and Trailblazing Aristocrats: Transylvania, Romania 4. Horny Ornaments and Sexy Ceratopsians: Alberta, Canada 5. The 'Unusual Terrible Hands': Gobi Desert, Mongolia 6. Scandalous Behaviour and Enfluffled Vegetarians: Siberia, Russia 7. Cretaceous Creatures of the Frozen North: Alaska, United States 8. The Hidden Treasures Down Under: Lightning Ridge, Australia 9. Record-breaking titans: Patagonia, Argentina 10. Southern Killers Set Adrift: Mahajanga Basin, Madagascar 11. Polar Pioneers and the Frozen Crested Lizard: Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica Future Potential Glossary Further Reading Acknowledgments Notes Credits Index

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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 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 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 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 SynopsisCombining stunning photographs with expert knowledge, this book is a dazzling guide to precious stones, organic gems, and precious metals.Discover the intriguing stories of the world''s most famous and fabulous gems, including the mysterious Hope Diamond, the stunning Koh-i-Noor of the Crown Jewels, and exquisite Fabergé eggs. Trace the history of gemmology, learn all about the key characteristics of precious and semi-precious stones, and discover the science behind some of their more unusual and mysterious properties.With a foreword by antiques expert Judith Miller, co-founder of Miller''s Antiques Price Guide, and a regular presenter on BBC''s The Antiques Roadshow, this sumptuous celebration of gems and jewels is guaranteed to bring sparkle to both your life and your library.Dive deep into the pages of this dazzling book on jewels to discover: - Hundreds of specially commissioned, spectacular photographs.- Intriguing features on the history of gemstones, and the fascinating real-life stories behind them.- Stunning photography showcases the brilliance of semi-precious and precious stones, minerals, and metals.- Fascinating features on the most famous (and infamous) gems, and on the history of gemmology.- Optional 80-page directory sectionJewel is the ultimate guide to gemstones, jewels, and jewellery - combining mineralogy with culture, history, and symbolism, and proves the perfect addition to the library of jewel lovers of any ages. Whether you''re interested in gems, jewellery, and making jewellery, or a student of gemmology or geology, this gorgeous gem gift book is sure to delight.

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Book SynopsisA book for everyone fascinated by the huge beasts that once roamed the earthTrade ReviewIn a look at the biggest of these wonders . . . Prothero delves into these overlooked big guys, the most massive mammals to ever walk the Earth . . . [and] cuts across every aspect of paleontology to tell the story of these vanished giants. Chapters range from entertaining recounting of discoverers . . . to scholarly descriptions of the rules that biologists must follow to name a new species or estimate a vanished rhino's weight. * USA Today *Through copious background details, Prothero celebrates great and lesser-known names in the history of paleontology, as well as geological and taxonomic nitty gritty. * National Geographic Laelaps *Within this slim tome . . . Prothero packs in an encyclopedic summary of indrithocere anatomy and biology . . . Highly recommended. * Choice *Clearly, this book is a milestone on the subject, one of those books that are a classic already at their first appearance. * Priscum *Table of ContentsPreface1. Quicksand!2. 30 Million Years Ago in Asia3. "New Conquest of Central Asia"4. Rhinoceroses without Horns5. Building a Giant6. What's in a Name?7. Life among GiantsBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisProvides a comprehensive review of the fossil record of the Carpathian Basin in modern-day HungaryTrade Review[This] is an insightfully written treatise on the geology and paleontology of the region that many in the field do not have full knowledge of, but even though this is geared toward those readers with a scientific background, it is also set up so that general readers can understand. * Quarterly Review of Biology *This book fills a gap in the geological texts on the Carpathians, especially in Hungary, and offers a valuable wealth of geological-paleontological and scientific-historical information from the Ordovician to the Pleistocene. This extensive and relatively inexpensive work is an unrivaled recommendation for amateurs and amateur geologists / palaeontologists. [translated from German] * Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie *Fossils of the Carpathian Region. . . is beautifully produced with high-quality color illustrations throughout and an exhaustive bibliography and index. The book will be at home both in a university and on a coffee table. . . . Highly recommended. * Choice *Table of ContentsDetailed Outline of the TextList of Maps PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Rocks, Fossils, Events, Ages1. The Paleozoic2. The Triassic3. The Jurassic4. The Cretaceous5. The Cenozoic6. The Oligocene7. The Early and Middle Miocene8. The Late Miocene9. The Pliocene10. The Quaternary11. Museums and CollectionsEpilogueGlossaryMapsReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisDuring the Early Cretaceous, lakes, meandering streams, and flood plains covered the region where the current foothills of Rioja now exist. This book provides a synthesis of that research in English. It offers descriptions of sites, footprints, and trackways, and explains what these prints and tracks can tell us about the animals who made them.Trade ReviewFelix Perez-Lorente has to be congratulated for sharing his career-long experience in a book that will be the reference for La Rioja and that will undoubtedly serve for the study of tracksites around the world. It is a worthy read for anyone interested in - or fascinated by - these exceptional inchological wonders and the animals that made them. * Geobios *Table of Contents1. La Rioja Footprints2. Ichnology3. The Tracksites 4. Conservation of the Tracksites5. SummaryReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThe story of expeditions into Africa in search of dinosaur bones.Trade ReviewThe volume will certainly be the standard reference on the history of Tendaguru from here on . . . I thoroughly enjoyed African Dinosaurs Unearthed and recommend it to anyone interested in the history of research on Mesozoic fauna. * The Palaeontological Association Newsletter *Table of ContentsPreliminary Table of Contents:Preface1. 1907: Fraas and Something Curious in the African Bush 2. 1908: Von Branca and a Matter of National Honour3. 1909: Janensch, Hennig, and a Cemetery of Giants4. 1909-1910: Geology in the Rain and Comets, Stegosaurs, and Iguanodonts5. 1911: Along the Railway and Expansion, Exhaustion, and Completion?6. 1911-1912: A Museum Overflows - The Recks find Iguanodonts, Pterosaurs, and a Fossilized Forest7. 1913-1918: Fresh Discoveries and a Bitter War8. 1919-1924: The British Museum in Tanganyika Territory9. 1924-1925: Cutler, Leakey, and a Difficult Start10. 1925: Berlin Builds Dinosaurs11. 1925: A Death in Africa12. 1925: Migeod - A New Recruit 13. 1925-1926: An Expedition Saved 14. 1926-1927: Berlin in Chaos and Parkinson Reviews Stratigraphy 15. 1927-1929: Kenyan Interlude, Geology at Tendaguru, and Desperate Finances 16. 1929: Migeod Returns 17. 1930: Migeod and Parrington, Tendaguru and Nyasaland 18. 1931-1939: Hennig Returns and Berlin's Museum Triumphs 19. 1939-1976: Destruction and Renewal 20. 1971-2001: Russell to Africa, Brachiosaurus to Tokyo, Berlin to Tendaguru21. A Significant Contribution NotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Ornithopods include Iguanodon, one of the first dinosaurs ever discovered and analyzed, and perhaps the best-documented group, the hadrosaurs or 'duckbilled dinosaurs.' The Ceratopsians include Triceratops, known for its distinctive three-horned skull and protective collar. This book collects information on these two groups of animals.Table of ContentsContributorsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsI. Beaked Dinosaurs: The Ornithopods1. Callovosaurus leedsi, the Earliest Dryosaurid Dinosaur (Ornithischia: Euornithopoda) from the Middle Jurassic of England José Ignacio Ruiz-Omeñaca, Xabier Pereda Suberbiola, and Peter M. Galton2. Teeth of Ornithischian Dinosaurs (Mostly Ornithopoda) from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) of the Western United States Peter M. Galton3. A Description of a New Ornithopod from the Lytle Member of the Purgatoire Formation (Lower Cretaceous) and a Reassessment of the Skull of Camptosaurus Kathleen Brill and Kenneth Carpenter4. Turning the Old into the New: A Separate Genus for the Gracile Iguanodont from the Wealden of England Gregory S. Paul5. A Possible New Basal Hadrosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation of Eastern Utah David Gilpin, Tony DiCroce, and Kenneth Carpenter6. Postcranial Osteology of the Hadrosaurid Dinosaur Brachylophosaurus canadensis from the Late Cretaceous of Montana Albert Prieto-Marquez7. "Leonardo," a Mummified Brachylophosaurus (Ornithischia: Hadrosauridae) from the Judith River Formation of Montana Nate L. Murphy, David Trexler, and Mark Thompson8. Discussion of Character Analysis of the Appendicular Anatomy in Campanian and Maastrichtian North American Hadrosaurids—Variation and Ontogeny Michael K. Brett-Surman and Jonathan R. Wagner9. Osteochondrosis in Late Cretaceous Hadrosauria: A Manifestation of Ontologic Failure Bruce Rothschild and Darren H. Tanke10. Deciphering Duckbills: A History in Nomenclature Benjamin S. CreislerII. Horned Dinosaurs: Ceratopsians11. Cranial Anatomy and Biogeography of the First Leptoceratops gracilis (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) Specimens from the Hell Creek Formation, Southeast Montana Christopher J. Ott12. Cranial Osteology and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Chasmosaurine Ceratopsid Torosaurus latus Andrew A. Farke13. Growth and Population Age Structure in the Horned Dinosaur Chasmosaurus Thomas M. Lehman14. Bone Resorption, Bone Lesions, and Extracranial Fenestrae in Ceratopsid Dinosaurs: A Preliminary Assessment Darren H. Tanke and Andrew A. Farke15. "Bison" alticornis and O. C. Marsh's Early Views on Ceratopsians Kenneth CarpenterIndex

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Book SynopsisDescribes hundreds of minerals and lists their geographic distribution, physical properties, chemical composition, and crystalline structure.

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Book SynopsisAn up-to-date compilation written by authorities in particular aspects of ichnology. Considers the biological evidence that can be derived from trace fossils including both marine and terrestrial paleoenvironments. Features ancient and modern examples running the gamut from late Precambrian through fish coprolites to dinosaur eggs.Table of ContentsNomenclature and Taxonomy of Invertebrate Trace Fossils (R.Pickerill). Functional Morphology of Boring and Burrowing Invertebrates (E.Savazzi). The Paleobiology of Ichnocoenoses in Quaternary Bahamian-StyleCarbonate Environments: The Modern to Fossil Transition (H.Curran). The Period of Early Evolutionary Failure and the Dawn ofEvolutionary Success: The Record of Biotic Changes Across thePrecambrian-Cambrian Boundary (T. Crimes). The Paleoecology of Bioerosion (R. Bromley). The History of Phanerozoic Bioturbation (D. Bottjer & M.Droser). Plant Roots in Core (J. Bockelie). Insects and Other Arthropods as Trace-Makers in Non-MarineEnvironments and Paleoenvironments (S. Donovan). The Paleobiology of Vertebrate Coprolites (A. Hunt, et al.). Vertebrate Tracks and the Ichnofacies Concept: Implications forPaleoecology and Palichnostratigraphy (M. Lockley, et al.). The Fossil Record of Vertebrate Eggs (K. Hirsch). Index.

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Book SynopsisAmber is a remarkable substance that originates from the resin of trees that lived millions of years ago. This book provides an overview of this prehistoric substance and its fossilized inclusions. It explains how amber is formed, where it is found and how to distinguish genuine amber from fakes.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the healing power of more than 180 crystals in this ultimate guide to mineral magic Crystals have been used for centuries around the world to promote wellness, fertility, prosperity, healing, and more. Founder of America’s largest retailer of gemstones, Sage Goddess, and bestselling author of three books on metaphysical topics, Dr. Athena Perrakis dove deep into the crystal literature on a quest to heal herself and discovered the profound power of healing crystals. In this A to Z compendium of crystal wisdom designed both for beginners and advanced crystal healers, she collects their histories, geologies, mythologies, and healing capabilities all in one place for the first time. In these pages, you’ll learn:• Where each crystal originated in the earth’s core• The science behind its beauty and magical qualities• How best to use each crystal for healing• Its resonance with

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