Review by Choice Review
The revised and expanded second edition of an established reference book on the occurrence, mineralogy, identification, and fashioning of gemstones. Hurlbut (Harvard) is an author of leading mineralogy textbooks; Kammerling is a director of the Gemological Institute of America. Although the approach is similar to that of the first edition (CH, Mar'80), the material reflects the significant changes that have taken place during the past decade in the technology of gemstone determination and in gem fashioning, enhancement, and synthesis. An extensive section on descriptive gemstone mineralogy and a gem determinative table are of particular value. The book is amply illustrated with mineralogical and crystallographic diagrams, photographs, and excellent color plates. There are chapter references and a thorough index. A recent and similar work with less emphasis on mineralogy and more detail on testing techniques is P.G. Read's Gemmology (CH, Mar'92). Recommended for college and university geoscience collections and for libraries serving gemstone collectors.-W. C. Peters, University of Arizona
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
