National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals by Charles Wesley Chesterman (1979, Paperback, Illustrated)

This book was my first introduction to rocks and minerals. Although I have consulted many other works in the field of minerals, this guide is truly the best on the market. The volume is not only useful in identification of specimens, it also helps the reader understand how crystals form, the hardness of different minerals, and the color and shape certain crystals mostly likely assume.

The color plates are very helpful, but sometimes they don't accurately reflect certain specimens. However, the pictures do help in making a close identification or at least a reasonable guess. Usually, the pictures are pretty accurate.

I found this book helpful as a beginner in the mineral trade. I now find I consult it at least once a week. I'll go to this volume before I go to any other reference work on minerals. This book also discusses the molecular structure of crystals and minerals making it a handy resource for advanced collector or simply the interested scientist. There should be something here for everyone interested in rocks and minerals!

The very best carry along field guide to rock and mineral identification of North America. The Audubon Society is highly recognized as the foremost leader of field guides on a variety of subjects. It has in depth descriptions and color photos of each rock and mineral covered. Since I have always been interested in rock and mineral collecting, this is a very valuable tool in identification. It also ties in with my metal detecting hobby as to identifying metallic specimens I have found. After locating it on e-bay, the price I paid for it was about half of retail. The book is in almost new condition which I find is another plus. It's a fantastic bargain for a very valuable book.

This is a great reference book. I am a novice rock and mineral collector and this has been a very useful guide. The pictures are good and the information is very interesting.

The book's title is "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals" by Charles Wesley Chesterman (1979). Every one of the National Audubon Field Guides is a marvelous aid to any nature enthusiast. The book is far more than a mere aid in mineral identification. It clearly presents the geologic processes that went into creating the specimen you are examining in the field, as well as it's chemical and crystal structure.

The book I purchased was published in 1979, and quite frankly I could have gone to a good book store and purchased a new one for about the same price I ended up paying through eBay. The book was offered "in like new condition" and so it was. Rocks have not changed a whole lot since 1979, nor have those great field guides. I for one find it fun to buy on eBay. I feel that I am helping sellers turn something they no longer want into cash, and I get the item delivered directly to my house. Win Win.

Happy eBaying,
papakct

The good:
Very detailed writing on all the stones you could find in here North America - fairly easy read without boring anyone.

The bad:
The pictures - while it is clear, it doesn't have all the example that you might need in the field.

The ugly:
Most likely the grey tone vinyl cover... could I get a brown leather one like Herr. Indiana Jones has?

Bottomline:
A great field guide for any rockhounds.

This is a very informative, quick and easy to use reference guide that has good color pictures and wonderful references to many North American minerals and rocks. Not every one is listed in here but I found many to most are. It has been my field guide since I was an older child using my mom's. Without it, I would be very lost as to what kinds of precious stones, minerals, and rocks are in my area. I also love it's compact size instead of being a big, bulky, hard to carry around study guide. I haven't found it's equal or better yet. A great family resource tool.