Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals Identification, Values and Lapidary Uses

About this book

This colourful and easy-to-use reference guide dedicated to collecting rocks, gems and minerals is ideal for readers who want to expand their understanding without getting lost in a maze of science. Beautifully illustrated with 700 colour photographs providing wonderful detail and smartly organised to take the hassle out identification, readers will enjoy the simplicity of Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals and the enthusiasm and knowledge of author Patti Polk, one of the top agate collectors in the world and a self-proclaimed "rockhound".

In addition to updating all values – a unique feature to Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals – Polk is expanding her offerings to include new rare mineral specimens, as well as adding "rough" specimens to complement existing photos of finished samples Readers will also enjoy two areas that our competitors don't bother with: values and lapidary, which is the cutting and polishing of rocks and gemstones for jewelry or display. Impressively, Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals guide serves as a general escort for the beginning collector, yet it is comprehensive enough to cover all the important rocks, minerals and gems that any seasoned collector would need to refer to for information.

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Biography

Author Patti Polk is recognized as one of the top agate collectors in the world (as noted in the highly respected reference book Agates III by Johann Zenz). She has been collecting, cutting and polishing rocks for jewelry and display for more than 20 years. She has been published in Rock & Gem magazine and numerous other periodicals; she speaks at rock and mineral club programs and frequently serves as a trail guide for visitors to Arizona. Patti is a skilled lapidary artist, which includes the cutting and polishing of the stones into display specimens or cabochons for jewelry making. She also designs and creates fine silver jewelry with the gemstones. She continues to study the earth sciences to keep abreast of any new findings, and to further her knowledge of rocks and minerals in general.