Why am I passionate about this?
As a geologist and gemmologist, I am particularly fascinated with how the Earth works and landscapes change; how mountains, valleys, rivers, and seas are made; where and why volcanoes and earthquakes occur; and about crystals and gemstones for jewelry. My mother reminds me that since I was a toddler, I have loved to collect small pebbles and "sparkly things." I am passionate about teaching and writing for adults and children and lecture in universities and on cruise ships worldwide. Formerly the curator of more than 5,000 gemstones at the Natural History Museum, I am an examiner for the Gem-A, internationally recognised by jewelers worldwide.
Cally's book list on books for people with a passion for picking up pebbles
Why did Cally love this book?
I met the author, Professor Mike Bassett, at the National Museum and Galleries of Wales on a visit from the Natural History Museum in London where I was the Curator of Gemstones. After an amazing walk around the museum and its collections, I finished my tour back in his office, where he gave me a signed copy of this slim book. I loved the photo of the front cover, of a coiled ammonite fossil with a fake snake head.
What particularly caught my interest was the fact that the book not only gave the scientific facts about the fossils but also introduced the more aesthetic, medicinal, and metaphysical aspects. I loved reading about the myths and legends and the entertaining nicknames such as Devil’s toenail for Gryphaea, a fossil oyster.
1 author picked "Formed Stones", Folklore and Fossils as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.