Mineral Curiosities

Rocks are made up of mineral assemblies, generally small in size. Those presented here are singularities of nature, as they are the product of exceptional conditions where they were able to appear, grow and exceed the microscopic world to reach the macroscopic universe. Over geological time, the Earth has created traps in various places where the most beautiful crystals are found. This book, in turn, brings together the most beautiful specimens from the Museum of Mineralogy of the École des Mines de Paris, one of the most complete and beautiful collections in the world, built up over more than two centuries of history by geologists and mineralogists.

Like a cabinet of curiosities, this work presents the most characteristic minerals from the Museum of Mineralogy. More than 400 photographs reveal, in a wide range of colors, reflections and transparencies, the most unexpected shapes and materials of a hundred minerals and their varieties. Each mineral is accompanied by a brief text linking beauty and main areas of use, delivering historical, scientific and technical anecdotes, often surprising and amusing, but always instructive. This original book will delight collectors and mineralogy enthusiasts; it will also be the ideal companion for those who wish to discover the world of minerals.