NEW TITLE
“FIELD GUIDE TO ROCKS AND MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA”, by Bruce Cairncross. The book is well illustrated with more than 500 color photographs of  mineral specimens, cut gems, rock types, and localities as well as a number of general occurrence maps. Almost all of the photographs were taken by Cairncross. Softbound, 292 pages. Southern Africa boasts many spectacular examples of rocks and minerals; volcanic lavas make up the dramatic Drakensberg mountain range, granite mountains form stunning scenery in Namibia and Zimbabwe, and some of the most ancient rocks on Earth – over 3 000 million years old – are to be found on the subcontinent. The region is home to many important and interesting minerals, as well as a wide array of beautiful gemstones.  This surprisingly comprehensive book is the first definitive field guide to document the common, rare, and unusual minerals and rocks of southern Africa, represented by the countries of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, and the southern part of Mozambique. The book is arranged in a logical format, beginning with introductory material that discusses exactly what minerals, lapidary materials, and rocks are and concludes with a summary of the many aspects of collecting.  The next 200 pages are devoted to an alphabetical treatment of those mineral species for which southern Africa is well known, either from the economic resource, scientific, or mineral-collector standpoint, with an understandable emphasis on collector minerals.  The next major section, entitled "Rocks," gives a brief summary of the geology of southern Africa and then discusses the three rock groups individually, giving examples of rocks characteristic of the area.  This is followed by a glossary, a detailed bibliography, and a very comprehensive index.  The book is highlighted by short sidebar boxes and panels that present interesting facts about certain minerals or rocks.  Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals of Southern Africa will appeal to mineral collectors, geologists, gemologists, students, and anyone with an interest in the natural environment.  Published by Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa, 2004.
Order Item BK-0140A
Shipping weight:  3 pounds
Price:  $32.00

“FINE MINERALS OF CHINA – A Guide to Mineral Localities”, By Guanghua Li, 12” X 8 1/2”, including 55 maps and 617 color photographs of Chinese minerals, pictorial hard cover, 366 pages. Fine Minerals of China is a hefty and spectacularly beautiful photo album of China’s mineral riches.  The author, Guanghua Liu, is well known in the mineral world as the proprietor of AAA Minerals International, and has a Ph.D. in Geology.  The photo quality and reproduction quality are consistently high.  Photos are by Jeff Scovil, the author, and two other very qualified mineral photographers.  The paper is glossy and thick.  The hardcover binding is also glossy, with mineral photos on the front and back.
The book is arranged in three parts.  Part one gives an introduction and brief reviews of the geology, mineral deposits, mining history and mineral dealing scene in China.  Part two is the core of the book; nearly 120 fine collectible minerals from 60 mineral localities are included, and most of them are illustrated with photos.  Forty five mineral localities, within 13 provinces, are described in detail with the following data included: the geographical location, items of general interest about the mining district, mining history, accessibility, and a list of the major minerals found.  The maps show the locations of the various mines and occurrences.   The text and the maps provide invaluable data on how to spell the names of the various Chinese mineral localities, for specimen labels.  Part three contains useful reference information: an eight-page list of locality names, with latitudes, longitudes and minerals found; a list of 100 mineral species first found in China; an 11-page list of meteorites found in China; a species index, a locality index, and a list of 49 selected references (some in Chinese and some from the Western literature).  Fine Minerals of China is an impressive work that documents the almost unbelievable outpouring of fine mineral specimens from China in recent years.  All mineral collectors will enjoy this book, and the production quality amply justifies the price.  Printed in China, 2006.
 

Order item: BK0142 Shipping weight:  6 pounds Price:  $90.00

“FLEISCHER’S GLOSSARY OF MINERAL SPECIES – 2008”, 10^TH EDITION, By Malcolm Back and Joseph Mandarino, 345 pages, 9” X 6” size, spiral bound with pictorial, tough Lexotone covers for long wear.  This 2008 edition supersedes the 2004 Edition and contains a complete, alphabetical listing of the names, symmetry, and chemical compositions of all valid, approved mineral species as of December 1, 2007.  Synonyms and discarded names are not included.  Many changes in mineralogical nomenclature have occurred since the publication of the 2004 Edition.  Descriptions of many new mineral species are included.  Type locality information and crystal structure references were added to as many entries as possible.  For each mineral in the 2008 Edition, the following information is given: chemical formula, crystal system, polymorphism and relationships to other minerals, type locality (if known), the best English language reference, and the mineral group, if applicable.  The data on the mineral groups has been reinstated, and greatly expanded (75+ pages!) since this information was last published in the 8^th Edition (1999).  Published by the Mineralogical Record, Inc., Tucson, AZ, 2008.  Annual updates will be published in the “Mineralogial Record” magazine.
Order item BK0144
Shipping weight:  2 pounds
Price:  $18.00

NEW TITLE
“FRANKLIN AND STERLING HILL, NEW JERSEY: THE WORLD’S MOST MAGNIFICENT MINERAL DEPOSITS”, By Dr. Pete J. Dunn – Department of Mineral Sciences, Smithsonian Institution.   Over 750 pages of descriptive mineralogy and history are accompanied by more than 900 b & w images of maps, drawings, SEM images and hand specimen photographs.  Size is 11 1/4 X 8 1/2”, hard cover (!), handsomely bound and oversewn in two gold-stamped volumes of royal blue buckram with acid-free end papers.  Franklin and Sterling Hill are the type localities for no less than 70 mineral species, and these localities rank unquestionably among the world’s most extraordinary and fascinating mineralized areas.  Collectors and mineralogists have long relied upon Charles Palache’s 1935 monograph, The Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, as the definitive overview.  A tremendous amount of research has taken place since 1935, not only in the description of new species but in the refinement of knowledge about the minerals known in Palache’s time.   Pete Dunn has done a stellar job of presenting all of the pertinent data on the Franklin and Sterling Hill mines in this extensive work.  Considering that he has been personally responsible for describing and naming over a third of the type species, and is the leading expert on the localities, no one else was more qualified to do the job of summarizing all of the modern data for collectors and mineralogists.  Twenty two years in preparation, this work was first released in 1995 in five parts, in soft cover format.  Now you can own the entire work, published in two hard back volumes! 

* Volume I (290 pages) includes the introduction, historical perspective of local iron and zinc mining and processing, the quarries in the Franklin Marble, major zinc-mining companies in the Franklin-Sterling Hill area, benefication of the zinc ores, the cultural aspects of Franklin and Sterling Hill (includes data on men of distinction in the early days of mining / mineralogical studies, and lists of mineral collections), regional and local geology, geochemistry, and fluorescence of minerals in ultraviolet.  A 66-page (!) bibliography is included.

* Volume II (464 pages) includes data on the mineral assemblages, lists of minerals found at Franklin and Sterling Hill, a list of species unique to Franklin and SH, followed by 360 pages covering the descriptive mineralogy.  Approximately 350 mineral species are known from Franklin and Sterling Hill.  Dunn gives careful descriptions of each species, followed by a description and detailed review of the composition.  With the eye of a mineral collector as well as a mineralogist, he meticulously describes the quality of specimens of each species from different zones and occurrences, and shows many photographs rich in detail; some of the scanning electron micrographs, in particular, are quite stunning in terms of crystal architecture. Because of the fascinating chemical and structural relationships of the minerals, the mineral descriptions are arranged in order by chemistry, i.e., silicates, oxides, elements, etc.  List of unnamed minerals is included, accompanied by a list of obscure or general mineral names,  glossary of local terms, update on the mining at the Sterling Mine as of May 1966.  A 31-page subject index, and comprehensive mineral index are included.  This is a must-have reference for every serious collector, mineralogical bibliophile and library.  Published in hard cover edition by the author in this third printing, 2004.  A soft cover “Supplement to the Bibliography of Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ” is included with the two volume set at no extra charge.
Order Item: BK-0155
Shipping weight:  8 pounds (in two volumes)
Hardcover Price:  $195.00  Sold out - see soft cover below

 ONE ONLY – Original 5 volume soft cover edition published in 1995, in unused condition.  The 1996, 123 page supplement covering metallurgical processing, excerpts from the Franklin Furnace Folio, 19^th century exploration reports, persuasions from stock prospectuses, and mining at Franklin and Sterling Hill is also included.  978 pages in total!
Order Item: BK-0155S
Shipping weight:  9 pounds (in five volumes + 123 page supplement)
Softc over Price:  $125.00

NEW TITLE
"GEM IDENTIFICATION MADE EASY" - New Revised and Expanded Third Edition -  By A. L.  Matlins and A. C. Bonanno, 330 pages, 6 X 9”, with many tables and line drawings, 78 color plates, as well as numerous black and white photos, hard cover.  This new Third Edition of “Gem Identification Made Easy” adds to the wealth of information provided in the First and Second Editions -- everything you need to know to identify most gemstones -- updated and enlarged with the latest information on important new developments.  Today, more than ever before, knowing your gems – being absolutely sure about what you are buying and selling – is essential.   The ever-increasing variety of stones on the market, in every color, creates more confusion and risk of error.  Data is given on new synthetic stones, new treatments to enhance and conceal various features / inclusions, and new gems on the market.  New topics covered include information on new gemstones such as the chromium-type Emeralds from North Carolina, and how to distinguish them from other localities.    Data is provided on new, easy-to-use instruments for spotting treatments, synthetics, and look-alikes.    New diffusion techniques used to treat near-colorless Sapphires to obtain orange and yellow color are described, and information is given on how to detect them.  High-pressure / high-temperature (HPHT) techniques are described – and information is given on how to spot Diamonds that might have been treated by these new processes.   Information on synthetic gemstones, including synthetic Diamonds is given in detail.   The chapter covering new treatments in improving the appearance of gemstones includes information on filling cracks in gems, and how to spot color enhanced gemstones.  Distinguishing characteristics of new gems such as red Emerald, neon blue Tourmaline, and mandarin red Garnets are given.   Whether you are someone who enjoys collecting or acquiring gems for personal pleasure, a serious investor, or a professional, insufficient knowledge can be extremely costly.  “Gem Identification Made Easy” provides the basic information you need to help you make wiser buying decisions, as well as how to avoid making costly mistakes.  It shows you what instruments you need to do the job, how to use them, and what to look for in buying gems.  Numerous tables provide information on the following:  dichroic and trichroic gems, the use of UV light and/or phosphorescence as an identification aid, the refractive indices of popular gemstone materials, synthetic gemstones, man-made materials.  Several tables are devoted to the various properties of the important gemstones: hardness, specific gravity, refractive index tables for both single and double-refracting gems, dispersion, and birefringence.  Many of the color plates are devoted to the illustration of inclusions and blemishes that can be detected in Diamonds and other gemstones with the use of a magnification loupe, or a low-power microscope.  While years of training and experience are often necessary to become a professional gemologist, with practice and a little hands-on work, you will find it takes surprisingly little time to learn the basic techniques to help make educated decisions about what you are buying or selling.   Published by Gemstone Press, Woodstock, VT, 2003.
Order Item BK-0171
Shipping weight:  3 pounds
Price:  $36.95

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