Discovery Pack: Crystals and Gemstones

By Patience Coster and Tracey Kelly

Have you ever wondered where precious, glittering gemstones come from, how crystals form, or where you can see some of the biggest diamonds on Earth?

Inside this book you'll discover tons of rock-solid facts and high-carat images alongside cutting-edge science. You will find out everything you need to know about the sparkling, captivating world of gemstones and crystals! Perfect for kids aged 7+.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Discovery Pack is a science reference series for kids, focusing on a variety of exciting topics from the human body to space exploration. Vibrantly illustrated in full-colour these books make science accessible and engaging.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781838579456

Patience Coster

Patience Coster is a non-fiction writer and editor based in London. She has written books on a variety of subjects, from geography, history and fashion, to dinosaurs and vintage travel posters.

Book preview

All That Glitters

From the moment the first humans noticed sparkly chunks of rock in the ground, crystals and gemstones have been hunted and prized.

What is a crystal?

Crystals are all around us – snowflakes, diamonds, salt, and sugar are all crystals. Rock crystals are minerals: solid substances found in the earth that have formed into geometric shapes. They are solid with straight edges and smooth surfaces.

What is a gemstone?

A gemstone is a type of rare, well-formed crystal that has been cut and polished to show off its beautiful, gleaming colours. Gemstones can be inorganic (made from minerals) or organic (made from once-living plants or animals).

Mineral makeup

Most gemstones are minerals. As a mineral forms, its atoms arrange themselves in a crystal structure. But other gemstones are formed from organic matter that has hardened over time. Some examples are pearls, found in oysters; amber, made from tree resin; and coral, found as reefs in the sea.

Precious things

When people talk about ‘precious’ gemstones, they are usually referring to just four types: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Other stones – amethyst, turquoise, agate, jasper, and so on – are known as semiprecious stones. The higher the gem’s quality, hardness, or rarity, the more precious it will be.

Icelike

The word ‘crystal’ comes from the Greek krystallos, meaning ‘ice’. This is because crystals can resemble chunks of ice, in their clear, colourless state.

Crystal cave

Discovered in 2000, this magnificent cave in Naica, Mexico, contains some of the most stunning crystals ever found. They’re also some of the largest: compare them to the person in the bottom right of the photo. The Cave of the Crystals is 300 metres (1,000 feet) underground.

Rock-Solid Facts

People have always looked upon twinkling crystals and dazzling gems with a sense of awe. Discover some fascinating facts behind these special rocks.

Multipurpose

Throughout history, crystals and gemstones have been used by people to create jewellery. They have also been used to decorate objects, such as plates and vases. Some weaponry and armour, such as Roman helmets, used gems and glass jewels to give the impression of opulence. Today, the hardest gemstones, including diamonds and rubies, are also used in industry to make cutting and grinding tools.

Mineral groups

There are more than 2,000 minerals in the world, 16 of which form gemstones. Some minerals, such as beryl, produce many different sorts of gemstone. The 16 gemstone minerals are:

Beryl

Chrysoberyl

Corundum

Diamond

Feldspar

Garnet

Jade

Lazurite

Olivine

Opal

Quartz

Spinel

Topaz

Tourmaline

Turquoise

Zircon