Best Rock and Mineral Field Guides

A comprehensive guide that is easy to follow and a good size to take into the field.

Easy to follow descriptions include environment, field marks, similar rocks and minerals, and variations of color or crystal form. 794 full-color photographs in all. Good quality print. Includes a section on how to collect minerals. 856 pages.

Pocket Guide to Rocks and Minerals of North America

Some felt that this focused too much on minerals, and not enough on "average" rocks.

Best Bang for the Buck

NationalGeographic

An affordable guide that is good for novices who don't want to be overwhelmed with too much information.

Covers rocks and minerals, as well as fossils and land formations. 160 entries in all. Easy to read. Features key identification points, as well as special sections on where to find rocks and minerals and how to hunt them. Low price.

The Illustrated Guide to Rocks & Minerals

Some felt that this guide spent too much time on fossils and land formations and not enough on rocks and minerals. Lacks details.

John Farndon

Stands out for its 800+ photographs and illustrations, but it may be a little too technical for some.

Good textual explanations, as well as over 800 photographs and illustrations. 256 pages. Features quick-reference checklists to aid in identification, and a section on how to build your own collection.

Some found this guide to be a little too complex, so it may not be the best guide for complete beginners.

Smithsonian Handbooks

Rocks & Minerals

Features a lot of detailed information for both beginning collectors and experts.

Photographs and detailed information on over 500 rocks and minerals. Good for both beginners and more advanced collectors. Well written, and easy to follow. 256 pages. Includes a special section on how to start a collection. Good size.

Guide to Rocks & Minerals

Doesn't include maps, and the way it is laid out, it can be difficult to identify rocks. Some found the print quality poor.

Simon & Schuster

Packed with illustrations, this guide is easy to read, but may be too basic for those looking for in-depth information.

Broken down into a mineral section and a rock section, each with a detailed introduction. 377 entries in all, with more than 1,000 illustrations. Index is well organized and useful. Clear and easy to read. 607 pages.