Rocks, Gems, and Minerals of the Southwest


Book Description

Rocks, Gems, and Minerals of the Southwest is a field guide to more than 100 of the most common and sought-after rocks, gems, and minerals hidden throughout the Southwest. Conveniently sized to fit in your pocket and featuring full-color, detailed photographs, this informative guide makes it easy to identify rocks in your backyard and beyond. Also included is an introduction that covers fundamental geology information and interesting facts. This is the essential source when you're out in the field, both informative and beautiful to peruse.




Texas Rocks and Minerals


Book Description

Earth's outer crust Geologists Time and rock units Geologic map What are rocks and minerals? Chemical elements Minerals Rocks Igneous rocks Extrusive or volcanic igneous rocks Intrusive igneous rocks Sedimentary rocks Soils Sedimentary rock materials in broken fragments Sedimentary rock materials in solution Cementing materials and chemical sediments Sedimentary rocks formed by plants and animals Metamorphic rocks Static metamorphism Contact metamorphism Dynamic metamorphism Occurrence and properties of minerals How minerals occur Crystalline minerals Crystals Imperfect crystals Amorphous minerals Some distinguishing properties of minerals Color Luster Transmission of light Hardness Streak or powder Cleavage Parting Fracture Specific gravity Effervescence in acid Some special occurrences of minerals Cave deposits Concretions Geodes Petrified wood Collecting rocks and minerals Rock and mineral identification charts How to use the mineral identification charts Key to mineral identification charts Mineral identification charts How to use the rock identification charts Rock identification charts Descriptions of some Texas rocks and minerals Anhydrite Asbestos Barite Basalt Calcite Cassiterite Celestite Cinnabar Clay Copper minerals (chalcocite, chalcopyrite, malachite, azurite) Dolomite Feldspar Fluorite Galena Garnet Gneiss Gold Granite Graphite Gypsum Halite Hematite Limestone Limonite Llanite Magnetite Manganese minerals (braunite, hollandite, pyrolusite) Marble Mica Obsidian and vitrophyre Opal Pegmatite Pyrite Quartz Quartzite Rhyolite Sand and sandstone Schist Serpentine Shale Silver minerals (argentite, cerargyrite, native silver) Sulfur Talc and soapstone Topaz Tourmaline Uranium minerals (carnotite, uranophane, pitchblende) Volcanic ash (pumicite) Composition, hardness, and specific gravity of some Texas minerals Books about rocks and minerals Nontechnical books for beginners Textbooks and other reference books Selected references on Texas rocks and minerals




New Mexico Rockhounding


Book Description

New Mexico ranks among the best mineral and fossil collecting regions in the nation and is a destination for rockhounds the world over. Beginning with background information to get you started, New Mexico Rockhounding--organized geographically by county a




Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem and Mineral Guide (5th ed.)


Book Description

Updated 5th Edition with new sites & museums! SOUTHWEST Arizona • California • Colorado • Hawaii • Kansas Nevada • New Mexico • Oklahoma • Texas • Utah Whether you’re digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or “prospector,” with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich ... or at the very least, have fun trying. This guide offers you easy-to-use information on the ins and outs of “fee dig” mining, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest restrooms. Included are resources for use in identifying your finds, exploring the lapidary arts, and further pursuing an exciting—and possibly profitable—hobby. • Equipment and Clothing • Mining Techniques • Gem and Mineral Sites • Museums and Mine Tours • Special Events and Tourist Information • Other Features The Treasure Hunter’s Gem & Mineral Guides to the U.S.A. in 4 regional volumes: Northeast ISBN: 978-0-943763-76-7 Northwest ISBN: 978-0-943763-74-3 Southeast ISBN: 978-0-943763-77-4 Southwest ISBN: 978-0-943763-75-0 Kathy J. Rygle & Stephen F. Pedersen combine their scientific training with a hobbyist’s passion. Lifelong rockhounds, both authors have shared this hobby—begun with their parents—with their children, and have traveled to many “fee dig” sites, museums and mine tours across the United States.




Texas Rocks a Guide to Gems, Minerals and Crystals


Book Description

Texas Rocks is a colorful quick identification guide to rocks and minerals in the State. Identification of rocks and minerals is based on color, hardness, crystal shape, and unique features. The guide provides brief descriptions of the types of rocks, differences between rocks and minerals, and mineral groupings. While accurate identification of rocks and minerals often requires extensive laboratory techniques, many are easily identified by unique combinations of the features listed above. The rocks and minerals in this guide have been chosen specifically because they are either unique to Texas or commonly available and easily identified. This waterproof, pocket-sized quick reference also contains information on proper collection and documentation of specimens you may find, and rules and regulations concerning such activities. Collectors of every level will find this information helpful. This guide is a must-have for anyone who wants a quick and easy way to identify rocks and mineral




Rockhounding New Mexico


Book Description

More than a third of New Mexico is public land that holds untold quantities of mineralogical treasure. With this book anyone can learn where to find unusual mineral displays, fossils, jasper, agate, petrified wood—not to mention more obsidian than one rockhound could possibly collect in a lifetime. The array and quality of such materials just waiting to be found in New Mexico are almost mind-boggling. Rockhounding New Mexico describes 140 of the state's best rockhound sites, covering popular and commercial sites as well as numerous little-known areas. This handy guide describes where and how to collect specimens, includes maps of each site as well as directions, and provides reliable recommendations for accommodations, camping, and other special attractions. It is, in short, a complete and outstanding introduction to the many sides of a fascinating hobby.




Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem and Mineral Guide (6th Edition)


Book Description

Updated 5th Edition with new sites & museums! Learn Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals SOUTHWEST Arizona California Colorado Hawaii Kansas Nevada New Mexico Oklahoma Texas Utah Whether you’re digging for the first time or are an experienced rockhound or “prospector,” with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich ... or at the very least, have fun trying. This guide offers you easy-to-use information on the ins and outs of “fee dig” mining, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to the location of the nearest restrooms. Included are resources for use in identifying your finds, exploring the lapidary arts, and further pursuing an exciting—and possibly profitable—hobby. Equipment and Clothing: What you need and where to find it (or how to make it yourself). Mining Techniques: Step-by-step instructions on panning for gold, sluicing for gems and other methods. Gem and Mineral Sites: Directions and maps, hours, fees and equipment needed. Also includes info on guide services, local camping facilities and more. Museums and Mine Tours: Where to visit commercial and historical mines, as well as museums with exhibits of gems and minerals (for help in learning what to look for). Special Events and Tourist Information: Listings of regional events involving gems and minerals, and sources of general travel and tourism information for every state. Other Features: Where to find your birthstone ... your anniversary stone ... your zodiac stone; Index by State; Index by Gem/Mineral; U.S. State Gems & Minerals Chart; and more!




Rockhounding Utah


Book Description

A completely updated and revised edition brimming with advice on collecting and preparing gems and minerals .




Arizona Rocks & Minerals


Book Description

Get the perfect guide to rocks and minerals of the Grand Canyon State! From agates to rare treasures, youíll have facts and details at your fingertips to learn about and identify your finds. Quickly uncover what you need to know and where to look.




Falcon Pocket Guide: Rocks, Gems, and Minerals of the Southwest


Book Description

Rocks, Gems, and Minerals of the Southwest is a field guide to more than 100 of the most common and sought-after rocks, gems, and minerals hidden throughout the Southwest. Conveniently sized to fit in your pocket and featuring full-color, detailed photographs, this informative guide makes it easy to identify rocks in your backyard and beyond. Also included is an introduction that covers fundamental geology information and interesting facts. This is the essential source when you're out in the field, both informative and beautiful to peruse.