Texas Rocks and Minerals: An Amateur's Guide

The guide introduces basic geological concepts and the nature of chemical elements, minerals, and rock types, explaining igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic processes and soil formation. It describes mineral properties (color, luster, hardness, cleavage, specific gravity, effervescence) and special occurrences like caves, geodes, and petrified wood, and offers practical advice on collecting. Identification charts and keys help distinguish common specimens, followed by detailed descriptions of regional rocks and minerals, comparative tables, selected further reading, a glossary, and an index.