Gemmology /

This new edition of Read's classic work (1st ed., CH, Mar'92, 29-3910; 2nd ed., 1999) is a thorough, authoritative, and updated resource on gemstones, their characteristics, procedures of determination, and methods of fashioning into gems. With a history of gemstone science and an overview of the geological occurrence of gem materials, introductory chapters are devoted to crystal chemistry, crystallography, and the mineralogical properties of gemstones. The major part of the book provides detail on gemstone testing and the physical, optical, and spectroscopic methods used in their determination. Chapters then discuss gemstone enhancement, synthetic gemstones, gemstone simulants, and organic gem materials such as pearls and amber. Concluding chapters concern gem cutting and polishing. Appendixes give descriptions of the individual gem minerals and their determinative properties. The book is thoroughly illustrated with diagrams, photographs, and color plates; it has an ample index and a modern bibliography. Recommended for libraries serving mineral collectors and for all libraries supporting earth-science students in geology and mineralogy. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. General readers; lower- and upper-division undergraduates. W. C. Peters emeritus, University of Arizona