The rocks & minerals beneath our feet are often ignored, overlooked or misunderstood. This collection of specially-commissioned photographs aims to open your eyes to their amazing beauty, variety & importance. Starting with the physical composition of the Earth, the book explains how rocks & minerals are classified & how they are formed. Discover how landscapes evolve, how cave systems develop, how the sand & pebbles of the seashore originate, & how & where precious minerals, metals, & gems are mined. Produced in association with the Natural History Museum, London, this guide provides an introduction to the Earth's geology & how we use its natural resources for building, industry, energy, sculpture, coins, & jewellery.