The first chapter is an introduction to the fundamental ideas of mineralogy and crystallography. The majority of the book is a table of mineral properties, sorted by color, streak, luster, transparency, cleavage, fracture, crystal structure and other details. Each mineral description is accompanied by a color photograph which shows a typical specimen. Photos are not of 'museum' specimens, because the beginner or average field collector is not likely to encounter such. Similar treatment is given to precious stones, and to rocks. A good beginner's book for mineral identification. Some damage to the dust jacket, otherwise very good condition.

Contents: Preface. Introduction. Minerals (basic concepts). Minerals (Identification Tables and Plates.) Precious Stones. Rocks. Precious Stones and Rocks (Identification Tables and Plates.) Identification Tables according to Physical Properties. Index of Minerals. General Index. Locations of Minerals. List of Reference Books.

A fascinating historical description of the minerals and mines of Oxford County, Maine, and the people who found them. A must-read for anyone interested in pegmatite minerals (especially tourmaline) or Maine mineralogy.

Contents: Foreword. Welcome to The Oxford Hills. The Mount Rubellite Quarry. The Hibbs Quarry. The Whispering Pines Quarry. The Slattery Quarry. The Bennett Quarry. Mount Mica. The Lord Hill Quarries. The Melrose Quarry. Pleasant Mountain. Deer Hill. The Bumpus Quarry. The Schribner Ledge. The Emmons Quarry. The Tiger Bill Quarry. The Harvard Quarry. The Nubble Quarry. The Waisanen Quarry. The Tamminen Quarry. The B B #7 Quarry. The Perham Quarry. Black Mountain. The Newry Quarries. Miscellaneous Quarries in Oxford County. Mount Apatite. Gold in Oxford County. The Feldspar Industry. The Gem Cutting Industry in Oxford County. People Who Made This History. Superlative Pieces. Looking Ahead. Acknowledgments. Bibliography. Index.

An autobiographical description of the author's experience exploring and mining for gems and gold throughout the western US. In the author's words: "To fulfill a promise, made at the bequest of some friends, I have recorded here some happenings in my life during the early days, when tourmalines, kunzites, beryls, and other gem stones were first found and mined in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside Counties in California. I have also reported some "lost mine" stories and experiences of others. The "lost mine" stories, except for the silver finds of Mr. Westover's, the Old Mexican, and Bill Trenchard's uranium find, are "just stories"; I cannot vouch for them myself. The experiences of others and those of myself, as I relate them in this book, are all true."

Contents: Boyhood Discovery of an Old Mine. My Start of a Great Adventure - Mostly Underground. Experience in the Mine at Aguanga Mountain. Fascinating and Difficult Work of a Lapidary. Interesting Stories of Gem-handlers and Customers. Ernsting and Salmons - Lapidary Shop and its Equipment. How Gem Stones are Marketed. Locating Good Gem and Vein Stones. Personalities Met on the Way Home (San Diego). In Search of Silver, Oil, Lapidary Work. Garnets from Alaska, Mending an Oil Well. The Marble Diggin's in Coyote Mountain. The Lost Silver Mine, and How "Dutch" Lost His Mind. Jack the Ripper, Nickel Mining, Petrified Wood. Quitting the Quarries and Loading Marble. Working the Esmeralda, Old French Charley, and Big Coyote. Quartz at Tripp Flat. The Old Mexican. Camping with Newton Angel. Making a Stove, What a Rain! Henry Quin. A Rare Specimen Found. Gold on the Colorado! Big Flood and Odd Mining Experiences. Down to San Diego the Hard Way on the Old Hupp. Finding Tourmalines in the Dumps. Pollucite -- What it is. Several Valuable Gem Pockets. A Gold Hunt in Washington State. Advice of an Indian Scout. Money in Pollucite; Quartz Crystals for Navy. First Western Air Express Crystal. Chemical Projects and Prospecting Trips (Gold, Silver, Opals). The Lost Gold Mine. All About rattlers. What is Progress? Black, Buel, and Eugene -- Contrasted -- Following Blind Clues, and Actual Mining. Trip up the Avawat Mountains. Jim and the Indian Woman's Lost Mine. The Grocer 's Mine. Mack's Wild Goose Chase. Old Boat in Salton Sink. Mythical Lost Gold Mine. Lost Uranium Mine. Lost Peg Leg Mine.

The classic and thorough Sinkankas reference work, featuring Sinkankas' very readable writing style. Physical and chemical data; discussion of localities. Good condition.

Contents: The Properties of Gemstones. Principal Gemstones. Important Gemstones. Quartz Family Gemstones. Rare and Unusual Gemstones. Massive and Decorative Gemstones. Organic Gemstones. Bibliography. Glossary. Tabular Review of Gemstone Deposits. Notes on Collections and Collecting. Geographical Index. General Index.