In recent years, minerals and gems have enjoyed growing renown and popularity. At this time there are some 3,800 different minerals known from all parts of the world that have been deep in the earth for millions of years and grew there over thousands of years. Learn to identify the most important groups of minerals, including quartz, feldspar, beryl, tourmaline, corundum, diamond, garnet, spinel, fluorite, precious metals, and more. More than 150 photos with descriptions relate how minerals originate, are found, and what they signified in ancient times.