Crystal & gem - R. F Symes|R. R Harding|England) Natural History Museum

Crystals are all around us - even inside our bodies - and they have fascinated people for thousands of years.
This collection of specially commissioned photographs opens our eyes to their beauty and variety
from brilliant diamonds to rare crystals of gold and silver.Starting with a definition of what crystals are
and why and where they form
this book examines their complex inner structures and fantastic geometrical shapes
what gives them their amazing colours
and other features
such as hardness
that are used in identification.
Discover how crystals grow
how they have been used as symbols of wealth and prestige
and how some play an important role in technology.Produced in association with the Natural History Museum
London
Crystal & Gem is a superb introduction to the remarkable and surprising world of crystals.