National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals North America

Perfect for mountain climbers and hikers, this valuable reference covers more rocks and minerals in North America than any other available guide. 794 full-color photographs depict all the important rocks, gems, and minerals -- in many variations of color and crystal form -- and the natural environments in which they occur; written descriptions provide information on field marks, similar rocks and minerals, environment, areas of occurrence, and derivation of names. Includes a guide to mineral collecting and a list of rock-forming minerals

The author, Charles W. Chesterman, is Senior Scientist at the California Division of Mines and Geology and Honorary Curator of Mineralogy at the California Academy of Sciences.