National Geographic Pocket Guide to Rocks and Minerals of North America

A handy beginner's field guide to geology, identifying 160 minerals, rocks, fossils, and geological formations.

With photos, fact boxes, and descriptive text for each item, plus a useful introduction to geology basics.

Compact, comprehensive, and easy to use, this basic field guide to geology helps identify the rocks, minerals, fossils, and land formations most likely to be found in North America.

With this book, amateur rockhounds learn the basics: key properties and classifications used to identify rocks and minerals, plus interesting facts and stories about how they formed and have been used by humans through time. Color photographs, illuminating infographics, and detailed descriptions help distinguish each geological treasure.

All 160 entries—44 rocks, 44 minerals, 20 fossils, and 52 landforms—include key identification points, photographs, and illustrations, making his guide the perfect starting point for anyone, young or old, interested in the study of rocks and geology.

From familiar rocks and minerals like granite and agate to precious metals like silver and gold, from petrified wood and shark teeth to weathered arches and cinder cones, this little book offers a wealth of geological information in a convenient package. Tuck it into a pocket on the trail or browse through it at home: Either way, it will satisfy the eager rock collector or the science buff just wanting to learn more.

Author SARAH GARLICK is a climber, writer, and educator specializing in earth and environmental science. Garlick has made first ascents of rock walls in Greenland, the Middle East, and Newfoundland, and she's scaled alpine routes in Patagonia, Peru, and the Canadian Rockies. She is the author of the award-winning book Flakes, Jugs & Splitters: A Rock Climber's Guide to Geology and is the founder/director of GeoReach, an organization dedicated to science outreach and communication.

Illustrator JARED TRAVNICEK is a scientific and medical illustrator. He received his M.A. in Biological and Medical Illustration from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Jared is a Certified Medical Illustrator and a professional member of the Association of Medical Illustrators.