Smithsonian The Rock & Gem Book

Our planet is bursting with wonders of nature. The rocks that make up Earth’s surface hide countless surprises, from colorful minerals to glittering gemstones, and valuable metals. This book is a fascinating collection of natural treasures, along with amazing fossils and beautiful shells. Growing up by the sea in Wales, I was fascinated by the things that the tide brought in. With my sisters, I would scour the beach looking for treasures, collecting shiny stones, patterned pebbles, and shells. The hills around were dotted with lead mines, and I was obsessed with the idea of finding gold in local rivers. I never did find any gold, but sometimes I would turn up a rock with small fossil shells embedded in it, which was almost as exciting. I went on to study geology at university. There I learned that, as well as being irresistible for their beauty and rarity, minerals tell us a story about how the planet formed and how it changes over time. Fossils record the tale of how life on Earth has coped with the challenges of living on our everchanging planet. Rocks and minerals are important in our everyday lives, too. Many of the raw materials we depend on are dug out of the ground.