Crystal and Gem

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY GRANDSON FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. IT IS A VERY WELL ILLUSTRATED AND WRITTEN BOOK.

Fascinating. My kids can't put it down. I am entralled by it all. The kids even play "Guess the gem" color in the back with the chart of birthstones. A great gift for any occasion.

Crystal & Gem (DK Eyewitness Books) This book is a great reference book for anyone wanting to enter the world of crystals and gems. My son asked for a diamond and talc so he could compare the hardest and softest minerals, so this is what Santa brought him since diamonds are a tad pricey!

I am a great fan of Eyewitness books and this one is just as great as the others. I am an adult and I always learn a lot from them myself. This book is about crystals and gems which have always facinated me. The stones are beautiful and their beauty is a wonder. Kids love this kind of information too. The kids are always asking me to buy more of them.

The photographs of OVER 200 CRYSTALS AND GEMS is worth the purchase price of this book. And I am not just talking about ANY picture of each crystal, I am talking about a GORGEOUS, AMAZING sample picture of each crystal! Some of my favorite photographs/stones included are: Opals (My personal favorite stone ok, tied with Diamond!), Aragonite, Agate, Tourmaline, Calcite, Topaz, Barite, Hematite, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, The Blue Hope Diamond, Ruskin's Ruby, Moonstone, Spodumene, Blende, Natural Mosaic, Malachite, Gold, Mother-of-Pearl, Turquoise....I could go on forever!Here are the chapters: WHAT IS A CRYSTAL? A WORLD OF CRYSTALS, NATURAL BEAUTY, CRYSTALS-OUTSIDE, ...AND INSIDE, THE COLOR OF CRYSTALS, IDENTIFICATION, NATURAL GROWTH, GOOD HABITS, DISCOVERY-RECOVERY, GROWING FROM SEED, CRYSTALS AT WORK, GOOD VIBRATIONS, QUARTZ, DIAMOND, CORUNDUM, BERYL, OPAL, OTHER GEMSTONES, COLLECTORS' ITEMS, STONES FOR CARVING, PRECIOUS METALS, ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE, WHAT IS IT WORTH?, MAKING THEM SPARKLE, LORE AND LEGENDS, CRYSTALS AT HOME AND INDEX.This is a must-own if you have any interest in the marvelous beauty of crystals and gems. Not only are the photographs great but the information is succinct and fascinating! I highly recommend this book along with any other of the 109 in the Eyewitness series! Talk about something for everyone! Thanks Dr. Symes and Dr. Harding! Wow!