"You live on a fiery ball of rocks and minerals that is ready to reveal its secrets and its incredible history! In-depth information about rock formation and change. Galleries of rocks, minerals, and gems to identify and collect. Cool graphics to make science simple." --Back cover.

Science writer Seymour Simon explains to readers the different types of rocks and minerals with facts and full-color photographs. Readers will learn how to identify and classify various kinds of stones, such as granite, sandstone, basalt, quartz, and crystal.

Introduces readers to rocks and minerals, describing how they are created, what they can be used for, and their different forms and types.

Introduces special rocks and pictures many different gems and gives brief information about each one.

Discusses the size, shape, composition, origin, and other aspects of different kinds of rocks.

Presents more than thirty learning activities involving rocks and fossils, including exercises about minerals, gems, crystals, and limestone.

Think rocks are boring? Hard to like? Kinda just sit there, doing nothing? Why even write a whole book about them?? Bethany Barton will tell you why ... because we wouldn't be here if there were no rocks! From the Grand Canyon to volcanoes to diamonds and fossils, geology--the study of rocks--shows us where we've been and where we're going. With tons of humor and scores of fascinating facts, Bethany Barton introduces younger readers to geology and...

"Find our about the rocks beneath your feet and te minerals they contain. Discover how they are used--from the graphite in pencils, to precious metals and gems. Learn the secrets of ancient fossils and how new rocks are made." -- Back cover.

A survey of the earth's rocks and minerals explores some of the ways they have been transformed into usable materials from talcum powder to silver jewelry, in a reference complemented by a bonus activity suggestion.