Agates: Treasures of the Earth [Hardcover]

Roger Pabian (Author), Brian Jackson (Author), Peter Tandy (Author), John Cromartie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2006

"Superbly done... should be high on everyone's 'must have' list."-- Rock and Gem

This book has been very well received as the first popular guide to these brilliantly banded and highly prized gemstones.

The agate is one of the world's most strikingly beautiful semiprecious gems. Collectors worldwide are drawn to the stone's infinite variety of coloration and banding. While these stones are readily available, the rare and higher-quality ones are quite valuable and aggressively collected.

Agates is a comprehensive reference written by one of North America's leading experts in cooperation with the Natural History Museum of London. The book features an easy-to-use identification guide and a worldwide listing of where agates are found. More than 200 color photographs of superb agate specimens were selected from the extensive collection of the Natural History Museum of London and from the private collection of author Roger Pabian.

(200708)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Will interest both high school and public library holdings seeking books on geology and gemstones... A top pick. (Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review 200707)

Superbly done ... should be high on everyone's 'must have' list. (Bob Jones Rock and Gem )

A revelatory look at this group of dazzling stones.... well written and lucid. Its photos are spectacular and carefully labeled. (Frances V. Belohlavy, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Great Plains Research Journal, Center for Great Pl )

About the Author

Roger Pabian is a research geologist, invertebrate paleontologist and highly respected specialist in agates. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Brian Jackson is head of mineralogy at the National Museums Scotland and professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Peter Tandy is curator of mineralogy at the Natural History Museum in London, England.

John Cromartie is a collector of Scottish agates.

(200709)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (October 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554070988
• ISBN-13: 978-1554070985
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Mineralogy
  • #96 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Rocks & Minerals

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rockhound or Lapidary Must Have Book, July 10, 2007

By 

C. J. Van Oost (Waretown, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Agates: Treasures of the Earth (Hardcover)

The combination of Roger Pabian with Brian Jackson, Peter Tandy & John Cromartie present a well written book on some of the most beautiful, popular with collectors and sometimes scarce agates of the world. The first forty pages alone give the novice collector, lapidary, rock-hound, or just someone who has picked up a pretty banded rock on vacation an idea of how agates were formed, the why of the different patterns, and the names and terms needed to intelligently discuss agates. The pictures are out standing and many. The descriptions informative and to the point. The references in the back of the book present a good jumping off place to pursue further knowledge of specific types of agates. In my opinion this book was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read, even though some of the newer types of agates were not presented.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Agate or Not here it comes., December 29, 2010

By 

Brad L. - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Agates: Treasures of the Earth (Hardcover)

Over all, a good book with lots of nice agate photos and information.

Good general light reading for agate lovers or anyone interested in these beautiful gems from the Earth.

The only major item that I found un-helpful was their use of very bland, generic maps. They were so useless that it would have been better leaving them out of the book.

What were they thinking?

Looks like they needed some last minute page fillers.

Too bad, it made this look like a cheap knockoff book where as nice, informative, accurate maps would have greatly increased its appeal.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of this World Photos!, December 30, 2007

By 

Alene A. Geed (Arizona) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Agates: Treasures of the Earth (Hardcover)

This book offers detailed information on agates. what they are, how they are formed and where they are found. What I found most intriguing were the terrific photographs of agates throughout the entire book. I use agates in my jewelry design but was not completely aware of the multitudes of colors and gems that fall under the umbrella name 'Agate'

Very well worth the dollars spent for this book.