"Superbly done ... should be high on everyone's 'must have' list." --Rock and Gem Agates , the first popular guide to the brilliantly banded and highly prized gemstones, sold 7,000 copies in hardcover, no doubt for the glorious color photographs that capture collectors' enthusiasm for the stones' distinctive shapes and vivid colors. Agates is a comprehensive, easy-to-use identification guide and a worldwide listing of where they are found. The book describes: Names of agates--mineralogical, geological, local, trade, trivial - Properties of agates--e.g., color, wall-banded, level-banded, cracked, thunder eggs - Sources of agates--e.g., eruptions, lava, sediment, limestone beds, and fissures - Lapidary--sawing, grinding, sanding, polishing - Imitations and forgeries of agates - Uses of agates through the ages, with beautiful photographs of artifacts and jewelry - Early writing and collections - Use of agates in science and technology - Collecting - National and regional maps showing agate-producing areas. Amateur gemologists and agate collectors alike will find this informative and beautifully illustrated book to be an indispensable resource. Selection, Holiday Gift Guide 2016... A comprehensive, easy-to-use identification guide for rock lovers... Amateur gemologists and agate collectors alike will find this informative and beautifully illustrated book to be an indispensable resource. ( Entertainment Report 2016-12-13) [Review of hardcover edition:] Will interest both high school and public library holdings seeking books on geology and gemstones... Color photos throughout pack a history that is a top pick for any gemstone collector. (Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review ) [Review of hardcover edition:] A revelatory look at this group of dazzling stones.... well written and lucid. Its photos are spectacular and carefully labeled. I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of agates. It will certainly help make collecting more enjoyable and productive. (Frances V. Belohlavy, School of Natural Resources, Great Plains Research Journal, Center for Great Pl ) [Review of hardcover edition:] Among the many articles and books on agates available to readers, this superbly done 184-page text by one of this country leading experts on agates should be high on everyone's "must have" list. (Bob Jones Rock and Gem ) Roger Pabian was a professor emeritus at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a highly respected agates specialist, research geologist and invertebrate paleontologist. Brian Jackson is head of mineralogy at the National Museums Scotland and professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Peter Tandy is curator of mineralogy at the Natural History Museum in London, England. John Cromartie is a collector of Scottish agates. Introduction Agates are probably the most common gemstones on Earth. They have been used to create ornaments for around 7000 years, and have been recorded on every continent and in several different geological environments. Since the mid-1900s, agate collecting has become very popular in Europe, North America and the Middle East. There are thousands of agate-producing areas on Earth, and in the following pages, you will become acquainted with a small, but representative sample of these fascinating gems. The formation of agates is of scientific interest to a range of scientists, from geologists investigating their geological significance to chemists studying the formation of chalcedony within water pipes in geothermal areas. This book is intended to present the current state of knowledge of these gems. Thus, the goal is to acquaint the novice and remind the advanced collector of the rich geological and cultural significance of these most beautiful stones, and to take the reader on a tour of the geographical distribution of agates across the world. Introduction Agates are probably the most common gemstones on Earth. They have been used to create ornaments for around 7000 years, and have been recorded on every continent and in several different geological environments. Since the mid-1900s, agate collecting has become very popular in Europe, North America and the Middle East. There are thousands of agate-producing areas on Earth, and in the following pages, you will become acquainted with a small, but representative sample of these fascinating gems. The formation of agates is of scientific interest to a range of scientists, from geologists investigating their geological significance to chemists studying the formation of chalcedony within water pipes in geothermal areas. This book is intended to present the current state of knowledge of these gems. Thus, the goal is to acquaint the novice and remind the advanced collector of the rich geological and cultural significance of these most beautiful stones, and to take the reader on a tour of the geographical distribution of agates across the world.