No comments about Oriental Art [Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York (3058) / 22 May 1970].

No comments about Rocks and Minerals for the Collector (Miscellaneous Report (Geological Survey of Canada), 46.).

No comments about Discoveries: Diamonds and Precious Stones (Discoveries (Abrams)).

No comments about Rocks and Fossils (Kingfisher Young Knowledge).

1 comments about Practical Gemmology.

1. I like gemstones more than money.
   
   Originally written in 1943, a textbook classic on gemology, for students and a self-instructor for jewelers. 21 sections comprise notes on the formation of gem materials and the chemistry of it. Includes refractive index, color, and specific gravity. This 4th edition has a new section on luminescence and electrical effects.
   
   Diagrams and charts. 210 pages, British book.

No comments about Rock Hunters Guide: How to Find and Identify Collectible Rocks.

No comments about Collecting Rocks and Crystals: Hold the Treasures of the Earth in the Palm of Your Hand.

No comments about Care and Conservation of Geological Material: Minerals, Rocks, Meteorites and Lunar Finds (Butterworth - Heinemann Series in Conservation and Museology).

3 comments about Midwest Gem Fossil and Mineral Trails : Prairie States.

1. If you're looking for a book that will pinpoint accurately areas of the State of Nebraska that you will find fossil and mineral "goodies" then you've found the wrong book. Many of the areas pinpointed in here have been exploited badly by amature geologists, and have had their resources exhausted. However, the book does give hints on where to look for minerals and fossils, and it is possible once you have experience in searching for these things that you will find them. You'll have to use your experience and wits.

   Books like this are a blessing and a curse. A blessing for those starting out in the hobby and looking for places in the field to find the samples they are looking for. A curse because many people (especially those in the commercial area of our hobby) will exploit these findings for their own pocketbooks, and ruin the resources that the author has pointed out for the weekend hobbiest. It is unfortunate, in the case of this book, that that is exactly what has happened in Nebraska.




2. I tried to make use of this book over the summer. It seems like its a collection of peoples descriptions rather than a collection of trails that the author has taken. At first glance it seemed like it would be very useful but when you actually try to make use of the directions you quickly realize that this is not true.

   Directions start off fuzzy and then get worse. For instance, a direction might say drive 8 miles west of Custer South Dakota. Fine, at first glance this useful until you start questioning where in Custer this starting point is. This adds a couple of miles of uncertainty to the starting point. Instead she should have written something such as "Start by going west down US-12 until you reach mile marker 82. This will be about 8 miles."

   If this doesn't throw you off you'll then be faced with directions such as follow a forest road to the right. Given the couple miles of uncertainty this is also a useless instruction. Even if you could precisely nail down the starting location its still not useful if there are multiple nearby roads. Roads in general have names. "You are looking for Forest Road B112, also known as Bumpkin Peak Road. It will appear on the right."

   The directions become extremely vague after this. No distances are given or even a look to the left or right. I travelled up many interesting forest roads but didn't really get much useful instructions from the book. A couple of trails were accurate, most were hopelessly inaccurate. I had a good time, but may as well have taken forest roads at random.




3. This book has come in handy. It's a must have. We love it.

No comments about Collecting Gems & Minerals: Hold the Treasures of the Earth in the Palm of Your Hand.