A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals (Peterson Field Guides) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Roger Tory Peterson (Editor), Jeffrey Scovil (Photographer) "Rocks and minerals are fundamental introductions to the study of all natural history, leading to a greater appreciation of nature..." (more)
Key Phrases: gemmy crystals, fracture subconchoidal, cleavage perfect side pinacoid, New York, New Jersey, Minas Gerais (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The definitive guide to rocks and minerals, completely updated for the fifth edition, includes 385 color photographs showing rocks, minerals, and geologic formations. Hundreds of minerals are described, with details such as geographic formations. Hundreds of minerals are described, with details such as geographic distribution, physical properties, chemical composition, and crystalline structures.

About the Author

Frederick H. Pough is a contributor for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt titles including: Peterson Field Guides: Rocks and Minerals.

About the photographer: Jeff Scovil is Associate photographer for the Mineralogical Record and Rock and Minerals magazines. He is and internationally published photographer whose work can be found in most of the mineral and lapidary magazines in the United States as well as France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Russia. Jeff is also the author of the recently published "Photography of Minerals, Fossils and Lapidary Materials". He has run the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show Seminar in Mineral Photography since 1986 and their Mineral Photography Slide Competition since 1988. Jeff lectures widely on the topics of mineral and gem photography plus mineralogy, and travels widely photographing for dealers, collectors and museums.
 

Roger Tory Peterson (August 28, 1908 – July 28, 1996), was an American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and educator, and held to be one of the founding inspirations for the 20th century environmental movement.

Peterson was born in Jamestown, New York. After graduating from high school‚ Peterson moved to New York City‚ where he attended the Art Students League (1927-1928) and the National Academy of Design (1929-1931). He then taught science and art at the Rivers School in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 1934 he published his seminal Guide to the Birds, the first modern field guide, which sold out its first printing of 2‚000 copies in one week, and subsequently went through 5 editions. He co-wrote Wild America with James Fisher, and edited or wrote many of the volumes in the Peterson Field Guide series on topics ranging from rocks and minerals to beetles to reptiles. He developed the Peterson Identification System, and is known for the clarity of both his illustrations of field guides and his delineation of relevant field marks.

Peterson received every major American award for natural science, ornithology, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary medals, diplomas, and citations from America and elewhere, including the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Order of the Golden Ark of the Netherlands. He died in 1996 at his home in Old Lyme, Connecticut. The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, New York is named in his honor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Fifth Edition edition (January 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039591096X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395910962
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #117,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

121 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for serious rock hounds & geology students, October 23, 1998

By	Pat Reed ([e-mail]) "[e-mail]" (Camano Island, WA) - See all my reviews

This book is arranged according to the mineral classifications, which is good if you know your minerals. The mineral testing section (flame tests, bead tests, etc.) is not found in very many field guides. As a professional Geologist, I would recommend this to other geologists, not to rock hounds. The National Audubon Society's field guide is better for rock hounds; there are more photos and they are arranged by color. The Audubon's minerals are still by classification, but the testing information is not included.

88 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a great handbook but a cheap binding, May 1, 2000

By	Bob Noble (Longmont, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This is the definitive handbook for the rockhound. Nicely updated with more and better pictures to help in identification of rocks and minerals. Too bad that Peterson's decided to save a nickel on the binding -- my copy of "Rocks and Minerals" was splitting out within a week.

I've had other Peterson's Field Guides which were softcover but HARD bound. These are useful handbooks that will last a lifetime.

If you buy a cheap paperback to read once, the binding isn't of much concern. A "field guide" deserves better.

The "Cambridge Guide to Minerals Rocks and Fossils" is just about as good, is about the same price, and has sewn in pages.

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic useful to beginners and experts alike., November 16, 1997

By	[e-mail] (madbury) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FG ROCK& MINERAL 5 CL NEW0395910978 (Peterson Field Guide Series, 7) (Hardcover)

This Field Guide has been, and still is, The classic and useful Field Guide. Despite its title, this is mainly oriented toward minerals. Well organized and interestingly written, this is one of the few mineralogy texts which is both readable for enjoyment, and useful to both the beginner and the expert.

Part I includes an introduction on the philosophy and adjuncts of the collecting and study of minerals, briefly reviews geology and its rocks, discusses the physical properties of minerals (such as may be used to help distinguish the various species), introduces crystallography, a chemical classification of minerals written for the layman, and finally Tests, Techniques, and Tips, with many useful down-to-earth hints.

Part II is Mineral Descriptions, each one with name, formula, crystal system, and visual aids in the plates which include both diagrams and photographs. Several headings in each description are in boldface: Environment, Crystal description, Physical properties, Composition, Tests, Distinguishing characteristics, Occurrence, and Interesting Facts.

Also includes glossary, bibliography, index. Well organized and accurate, this little book has been used by some amateur mineralogists who, although using several more technical books during years of study, still find this one useful. Although another well-known text is the most commonly used one for college mineralogy courses, I have recommended that students also get a copy of the Field Guide. For the amateur exercising a bit of Emersonian self-reliance in the testing of his own specimens, this Field Guide is one of the very few remaining guides including good Tests (which have actually been tried before including them) under each species. Appeals to collectors to first try a few tests on extra material before turning specimens over to others such as over-burdened professionals. Also appeals to study some phase of the subject for ones' own edification and enjoyment, as one will get as much out of it as he or she puts into it. This Field Guide shows you how.