Firefly Guide to Gems, illustrated guide to the identification, properties and use of gemstones by Cally Oldershaw
Soft cover, pocket book size, 224 pages with color on most pages, 850 total
Unlike some others, this book is meant for the general public and although it describes scientific properties of the gems, it does so in easy to understand language.
More than 130 stones are covered with images, a chart for each listing it's properties such as hardness, specific gravity, crystal group, transparency, luster, tenacity, fracture, cleavage and more.
The text blocks with each stone describe its history, sources, uses and more
There are maps in the back of the book and comprehensive index all in all an excellent basic gem book without the "metaphysical" aspects.
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