One of the world's fabulous collections of minerals and gems resides at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and this jewel of a book includes more than 300 of the Museum's spectacular specimens. This book is also a concise guide to minerals and gems, explaining what they are, how they develop, the symmetrical perfection of their crystals, and the qualities that make them outstanding or unique. The beautiful full-color illustrations present an enticing introduction to the world of mineralogy and gemology as well as a window into some of the museum's many treasures. This book presents a broad array of minerals - from the native elements (diamonds, copper, gold, silver, and sulfur) through sulfideds, tellurides, halides, oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, arsenates, vanadates, molybdates, and tugstates, to the silicates.. The gem section includes ornaments by such master craftsmen as Tiffany, Cartier, and Faberge, and features such wonders as a 100-carat orange sapphire and the Star of India, the world's largest gem-quality blue star sapphire. This sparkling and practical Tiny Folio will be appreciated by anyone who is fascinated by the natural world.

Author Biography

George E. Harlow is curator of Gems and Minerals and Joseph J. Peters senior scientific assistant at the American Museum of Natural History.