From elementary school times, when a classmate’s father took several of us interested students exploring for fossils and rocks around my hometown (at 10-years-of-age I had no clue that mountainous North Georgia was formerly under the sea in pre-historic times), I have been an avid rock collector after finding fossilized crinoid stems and brachiopods, as well as metamorphic rocks of shimmering flaky silver mica embedded in schist.

Consequently, my personal library is filled with numbers volumes on geology, crystals, and rock/fossil identification. So when I was granted the chance to the read “Beautiful Rocks & How to Find Them—A Modern Rockhound’s Guide” by Alison Jean Cole, I jumped at the opportunity.

My impression of “Rock” is that of a text-dense academic work. It contains extensive information about rules and regulations for collecting rocks and fossils on public and private property; instructs collectors on ethical, environmental, and safety practices; and discusses use of standard maps, Internet earth maps, surveys, and informal directions to rock digging locations.

Although, informative, with a clear table of contents, bibliography, and list of resources, this Princeton University Press Book just isn’t exciting nor graphically engaging. More colorful art, illustrations, photography, maps and pictures of rocks—which are few and far between—for a book about ROCK COLLECTING will break up the text and create visual interest and engagement for the reader.

JoyRwaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Alison Jean Cole, and Publisher Chronicle Books, an imprint of Princeton Architectural Press for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This is a really handy and beautiful book. I really enjoyed it. As a novice RockHound I learned so much and inspired me to make plans rock hunting.

This is a great little guide if you enjoy rocks and minerals and it shows how to find them and the unique beauty of each gem depending on its location. Simple yet informative and I enjoyed this book and its pictures. Good for all ages and for anyone loving geology or natural sciences.
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for an arc of this book.

While this was a useful book on where to look for rocks and how to get them, including the rules around what you can and cannot do, there wasn't any information on the rocks themselves - which ones to look for, how to tell what they are, why certain ones are collection-worthy, etc. So I would've liked more.

A useful resource for learning the art of rocks and gems. The author, a native of the pacific northwest, my own stomping grounds, details respectful ways to explore, learn, and enjoy collecting your own beautiful rocks.

Beautiful Rocks and How to Find Them is an accessible guide for rockhounds and field geology enthusiasts collected and written by Alison Jean Cole. Due out 26th March 2024 from the Princeton Architectural Press, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

Rockhounding is a fine way to get out into nature, enjoy social / family outings, acquire fun and interesting knowledge about our world, and potentially have a lasting memory or materials for meaningful rock collection or even one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Rock enthusiasts are some of the coolest, friendliest, and genuinely welcoming folks on the planet. The author is an experienced rockhound and guide and shares some of her experience to help others get started (or progress) in the hobby.

The book has a logical and accessible layout. The author covers getting started, identifying likely rocks in a given location, doing research, finding and getting permissions, safety, equipment, and building a collection. It's photographed well and clearly (many photos from the author's own collection) throughout.

It's nice that the nomenclature is correct, but moreso that it's always relayed in a completely accessible, non-intimidating manner. She covers the creation of many common to uncommon rocks and how they were created, and with her conversational style manages to make the terminology easy to understand and retain.

The author/publisher have included further links and reading lists for collecting, legalities, etc... mostly slanted to North America (specifically Canada and the USA).

Readers will need a guide and/or a field guide or group. There is no ID info or field notes in this volume. There are an abundance of good pictorial field guides with good photos of cut and uncut minerals and where they're likely to be found. That info is not included here.

Four stars. Well written and illustrated.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.