Guide to Rocks and Minerals of Illinois
Selected Readings
Bradbury, J.C., G.C. Finger, and R.L. Major, 1968, Fluorspar in
Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, Circular 420, 64 p.
Learn more about the official state mineral—its geology, mining
history, and uses. Although no longer mined in Illinois, the state was
once the leading U.S. producer of fluorspar.
Collinson, C., 2002, Guide for Beginning Fossil Hunters: Illinois
State Geological Survey, Geoscience Education Series 15, 48 p.
This update of an ISGS classic publication features twenty-two full-page
plates of fossil drawings and eight color plates of fossil photographs.
Tips on collecting fossils and descriptions of basic fossil types make
this publication an excellent source of information for beginning
collectors ages 8 to adult.
Johnsen, O., 2002, Minerals of the World, Princeton Field Guides:
Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 440 p. ISBN:
069109537X.
A well-illustrated and informative book covering more than 500 minerals.
Over 600 color photographs and crystallographic diagrams located next to
the text descriptions help with identification.
Killey, M.M., 1998, Illinois' Ice Age Legacy: Illinois State
Geological Survey, Educational Series 14, 66 p.
This book introduces the legacy of the glaciers that advanced and
retreated across Illinois in the last 1.8 million years. Described are
the history of the glaciers that covered Illinois, the deposits they
left behind, and how geologists study and learn about them.
Klein, C., 2001, Manual of Mineralogy (after James D. Dana): John
Wiley and Sons, New York, 656 p. ISBN: 0471251771.
This standard college text for mineralogy is a great reference for the
advanced collector.
Pough, F.H., and R.T. Peterson,1998, Field Guide to Rocks and
Minerals, The Peterson Field Guide Series: Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co.,
542 p. ISBN: 039591096X.
A standard reference for many years and still a great field guide.
Symes, R.F., 2000, Rocks and Minerals; Eyewitness Books: New
York, DK Publishing Inc., 64 p. ISBN: 0789458047.
Beautifully illustrated and a great resource for generating interests
in early collectors.
Symes, R.F., and R.R. Harding, 2000, Crystal and Gem; Eyewitness
Books: New York, DK Publishing Inc., 64 p. ISBN: 0789457644.
Part of the same Eyewitness Books series as Rocks and Minerals,
this volume also is a well-illustrated, great resource for beginning
collectors.
Zim, H.S., and P.R. Shaffer, 1970, Rocks and Minerals, Golden
Nature Guide: New York, Golden Press, 160 p. ISBN: 0307244997.
Without a doubt, one of the most popular books for beginners, well
illustrated with drawings.
Rocks and Minerals of Illinois Table of Contents
The printed version of Guide to Rocks and Minerals in Illinois can be purchased from the Shop ISGS Web site.
Updated 11/01/2011 SLD