| Introduction | 6 |
| Collecting Rocks and Minerals | 6 |
| Field Equipment | 8 |
| Home Equipment | 10 |
| Organizing your Collection | 12 |
| How This Book Works | 14 |
| Mineral or Rock? | 16 |
| Mineral Formation | 18 |
| Mineral Composition | 20 |
| Mineral Characteristics | 22 |
| Mineral Identification | 28 |
| How Rocks are Formed | 30 |
| Igneous Rock Characteristics | 32 |
| Types of Metamorphism | 34 |
| Metamorphic Rock Characteristics | 36 |
| Sedimentary Rock Characteristics | 38 |
| Rock Identification Key | 40 |
| Minerals | 46 |
| Native Elements | 46 |
| Sulfides and Sulfosalts | 52 |
| Halides | 70 |
| Oxides and Hydroxides | 76 |
| Carbonates, Nitrates, and Borates | 98 |
| Sulfates, Chromates, Molybdates, and Tungstates | 110 |
| Phosphates, Arsenates, and Vanadates | 120 |
| Silicates | 132 |
| Rocks | 180 |
| Igneous Rocks | 180 |
| Metamorphic Rocks | 208 |
| Sedimentary Rocks | 222 |
| Glossary | 250 |
| Index | 252 |
| Acknowledgements | 256 |