Crystal Classics

Mineralogical Books and Magazines for sale - extra Lapis International Magazines

Crystal Classics is the UK distributor of extraLapis English Magazines. Please scroll down past the books to see the individual listings for each of the extra Lapis magazines (no.1 to no. 11). No. 11 Garnet is now out!

Crystal Classics is also the UK distributor for Blue Cap Tourmaline productions (makers of the 'What's Hot in Tucson DVDs)

We also have a range of Mineralogical Books for sale.
Please contact us if you would like to purchase any of these books and to find out postage costs.

** Please note all prices are for the book and do not include the postage price, and that due the recent change in the US $$ we have had to adjust our prices accordingly**



American Mineral Treasures - Various contributors.
2008, Hardcover     368 pages    Dimensions: 250 x 336 mm
£50

The companion book to the sensational American Minerals display at Tucson 2007...a must have for every collector.




OUT OF STOCK

Namibia Minerals and Localities - by Ludi von Bezing, in collaboration with Rainer Bode, Steffen Jahn, Peter Lyckberg, Olaf and Ulrike Medenbach, Gerhard Niedermayr, and Gabi Schneider.
2007, Hardcover    856 pages   Dimensions 250 x 285 x 49mm
£90

The unique monograph for the ambitious mineral collector and nature lover: More than 850 pages and 1,600 full colour photos - a breathtaking impression of Namibia.
History: Pioneers among the geologists and prospectors - Famous mineral collections and collectors.
Minerals and their localities: the legendary Tsumeb Mine, a 200 page special - Aquamarine, Tourmaline and Fluorite from the druse of the Erongo Mountains - Topaz from Spitzkoppe Granite - Spectacular Quartz from Brandberg and the Orange River - Gemstones from the pegmatites of the Karibib area.
Luderitz and Oranjemund: Diamonds from the desert sand.
Encyclopedia: The minerals of Namibia from A-Z.




Masterpieces of the Mineral World - Treasures from the Houston Museum of Natural Science - by Wendell E. Wilson and Joel A. Bartsch, with Mark Mauthner.
2004, Hardcover    264 pages   328 x 241 x 33 mm
£45

LIMITED SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE!!
The collection of natural mineral crystals housed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is the finest and best known in the world. Now the treasures of this singular collection are shown in resplendent photographs that will seduce both the connoisseur of beauty and the student of natural history......


One of the best reference books for Chinese minerals, with three parts -
Part 1 is a review of China, its history, politics, geology, mining and the mineral business
Part 2 forms the core of the book - nearly 120 minerals from 60 locations are introduced, 45 locations are described in detail.
Part 3 is a very handy data compilation and tabulation of mineral species and locations.


The Smale Collection - Beauty in Natural Crystals - by Steve Smale
2006, Hardcover     204 pages    Dimensions: 295 x 295 mm
£30

The acclaimed photography of Jeff Scovil (70 plates) and Steve Smale (30 plates) capture the presence of masterpieces from one of the world's finest private collections - that of celebrated mathematician Steve Smale and his wife Clara. Captions and commentary by Smale himself provide context for these important pieces and insight into the mineral specimen trade.


Atlas der Krystallformen - by Victor Moritz Goldschmidt
2005    DVD   Language: German
£20

The complete 9 volumes of Goldschmidt's crystal atlas, “Atlas der Krystallformen” the classic reference work on mineralogy and crystallography. Provided as high-quality PDF scans, over 3,000 pages and over 23,000 crystal drawings with descriptions (in German) - but the pictures speak for themselves, and you will find this reference invaluable for mineralogical study, mineral identification or crystallographic interest. The books are provided as 18 high-quality PDF files (two for each volume, one for the tables, one for the text), and duplicated again as individual PDF files for every page - for your convenience.



No. 11 Garnet - Great Balls of Fire
2008   104 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

NOW IN STOCK!

Garnets in Ancient times; Ornamental Garnets; Classic Garnets - Almandine, Andradite, Grossular, Pyrope, Spessartine, Uvarovite; Garnets from the localities of New England, Quebec, Idaho, Mali, Dora-Maira Massif, Bohemia, Tongbei, Pakistan, Afghanistan.....


No. 10 Opal - The Phenomenal Gemstone
2007     Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

Precious opal is a rainbow made tangible. Its spectral blaze of color moves, changes, intensifies, fades, or disappears with the slightest change in perspective. Opal’s intriguing play of color and unique atomic arrangement have made it the subject of scientific probing from early optics in the 1850s to high tech photonics today. Equally challenging has been discovering opal’s place in history. Its beauty begs to be enshrined in myth and legend when facts are as scarce as the stone itself.
Opal, both precious and common, is found in disparate environments from the unbearable heat of the Australian outback to the higher elevations of the Canadian Rockies, from a centuries-old site in Slovakia to a number of little known places in the American west. An unique assortment of characters collect and mine this equally individual stone, of which no two are exactly alike.
This blazing gem of chemical simplicity—just silica and water—has ignited a complexity of human emotions: a compulsion to mine, the desire to wear, an urge to fashion, the challenge to imitate, a need to possess. A natural, wearable stone with magical depth, movement, and color, opal is a truly phenomenal gemstone.

No. 9 Fluorite - The Collector's Choice
2006    128 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

Fluorite is...
clear and colorless in its pure form, but defects and impurities endow it with an array of colors, in both fluorescent and white light, a number of which can occur in a single crystal. Those famous color zones are one of the many features that have drawn people to collect fluorite, giving it ...
a rich history that spans cultures and millennia. Colorful fluorite has been carved into all form of vases, cups, utensils, and decorator items that have historically commanded astronomical prices. The few fluorite artifacts preserved from days of old provide a glimpse into the lives of the ancients and open questions about their sources for fluorite as well as what was known of the mineral's properties, as fluorite is ...
an important ore. Its use as a flux for making steel has been long known, and its optical properties make it an important component in high-end lens systems. Fluorite is also man's most significant source for fluorine, which enjoys innumerable industrial applications. The commercial demand means fluorite is ...
readily mined from places across the globe. Fluorite is generally deposited by hydrothermal fluids, which can traverse many rock types. The mineral is thus found in a variety of geologic environments and the crystals reflect that variety. From simple cubes to incredibly complex crystals, colorful fluorite occurs in association with flashy species such as galena, quartz, calcite, sphalerite, and rhodochrosite. Rich in color, form, and association, fluorite is....
The Collector's Choice.

No. 8 The Italian Island of Elba - A Mineralogical Jewel in the Tuscan Archipelago
2005     96 pages     Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

Five tectonic complexes and the Monte Capanne intrusion come together to form the 229 square kilometers Italian island of Elba. The island’s compact, complex geology is the setting for vast iron deposits and historic pegmatites. Elba’s famous iron mines have been long-time producers of world class pyrite and hematite specimens, and its pegmatites are even better known among mineral collectors for yielding fabulous polychrome elbaite, one of the nine mineral species for which Elba is the type locality.
Adding to the island’s lure, its numerous classic and rare-species localities are set among lovely villages, majestic cliffs, and long sandy beaches. Elba’s relaxed pace, fine food and wine, and rich flora and fauna invite hikers, sunbathers, cyclists, families, and mineral collectors to while away their vacations on this watery retreat off the Italian coast.

No. 7 Beryl - And its Colour Varieties
2005    112 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

The colorful varieties of beryl, from clear goshenite to vibrant emerald to serene aquamarine, have been inspiring scientists, mystics and poets for millennia. Found in a range of shapes, sizes and colors, beryl is as diverse as the Earth in which it forms. Today, much is known and much remains unknown about the gemstone, mineral specimen and strategic ore that is beryl.

No. 6 Pakistan - Minerals, Mountains and Majesty
2004   96 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

For millennia, minerals and gemstones have been gathered and traded from countries surrounding present day Pakistan. While the Karakoram Mountains hosted portions of the Silk Road and other ancient routes over which stones were traded, Pakistan’s magnificent gem deposits were for the most part left undiscovered until the 20th century. Since then, a few daring miners, collectors and dealers have challenged the extreme climate, daunting terrain and rocky political landscape to introduce the world to some of its finest mineral treasures.
Pakistan—Minerals, Mountains & Majesty is packed with unmatchable locality information, detailed maps, stories behind the finds, and of course unforgettable photographs.

No. 5 Gold - The Noble Mineral
2003     112 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

NOW OUT OF PRINT - LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE

Eons before humans began extracting and pouring gold, nature was shaping a treasure of her own. Gold is found naturally in a variety of forms from microdust to placer nuggets to complex crystals.
Since the dawn of civilization, humans have valued gold, but to most, gold bullion has been more valuable than in its natural form.
Gold—The Noble Mineral explores the world of native gold. Beginning with the basics of gold mineralogy and enrichment, our expert team of authors traces the history of gold and man from the Egyptians to the modern day technoprospectors. Along the way, they describe localities, share stories and offer tips for evaluating specimens and avoiding fakes. Each article is lavishly illustrated with maps, diagrams and unforgettable, full color photographs of some of the world’s finest examples of crystallized gold.
Discover the world of native gold and see for yourself why gold is the King of Metals.

No. 4 Calcite - The Mineral with the Most Forms
2003    114 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

• Polarization
• Wave Theory
• Ring Sights
Over its long history, calcite has been instrumental in shaping the worlds of microscopy, technology, physics and even the science of war.
• Innumerable Habits
• Stunning Twins
• Cave Formations
To collectors, the word calcite invokes thoughts of shape and for good reason: calcite is found in more habits than any other mineral. It has fascinated crystallographers for generations.
• Favorite Fluorescence
• Dazzling Gemstone
• Colorful Combinations
Pure calcite is colorless, but even trace impurities can bring intense color to its many forms. The correct cut can transform common calcite into a stunning gemstone.

No. 3 Tourmaline - A Gemstone Spectrum
2002    108 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

NOW OUT OF PRINT - LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE

In the gem and mineral world, the word tourmaline is synonymous with color. Tourmaline is found in almost every imaginable hue from ruby-red to emerald-green to electric blue. Amazingly, two or more intense and highly contrasting colors can even be found in the same stone making tourmaline a spectacular display specimen and gemstone.
Tourmaline has been cherished in Europe’s royal treasuries for centuries but until relatively recently was assumed to be ruby or zircon. extraLapis English No. 3 explores the world of tourmaline from its fascinating history to the most recent discoveries, while unforgettable images bring life to the story of the stone.
Let extraLapis English No. 3 take you inside these colorful crystals and lead you to the places around the world where they are found.

No. 2 Emeralds of the World - The legendary Green Beryl
2002    102 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

Since antiquity, emerald has been one of the most highly valuated gemstone: the first known mines were those of Cleopatra in ancient Egypt. Two thousand years ago Pliny wrote, “Emerald-green is the most beautiful green of all.”
Leading researchers offer insight into many of the aspects of the world of emerald.
• What is emerald? A portrait of a precious and unique member of the beryl family
• How does emerald form? The events that conspired to bring about an unlikely outcome;
• Where is emerald found? Worldwide localities including Canada, Namibia and China
• Where are the richest deposits? Today’s market sources: South America, Africa and Asia;
• Is it possible to determine the origin of an emerald? Gemstone emerald: characteristics, inclusions and treatments;
• What separates green beryl from emerald? The debate over optical, spectroscopic and chemical delineations;
• How is emerald created in the lab and how can it be recognized? The history, process and detection of synthetic emerald;
Plus etymology, history, legendary giants, local finds and more…
extraLapis English No. 2 provides a comprehensive look at this magnificent gemstone.

No. 1 Madagascar - A Mineral and Gemstone Paradise
2001    98 pages    Dimensions: 210 x 297 mm
£19

The Red Island - Madagascar is the fourth largest island of the world. Incredible riches of minerals and gemstones are distributed over the entire island. Madagascar developed out of active tectonic history with countless episodes of mineralization.
In this monograph Federico Pezzotta, a Madagascar specialist and curator of the Natural History museum of Milan, Italy, reports on the origins, distribution and production of the minerals and gemstones of Madagascar. He guides the reader through the island’s remote localities and sources of some of the “world’s best” for numerous mineral species.