A review by robertrivasplata
Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones by Hettie Judah

funny informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

4.25

Book about rocks. Who cares. Boring. 

Entries for 60 different stones & minerals, focusing on the historical & cultural uses of the various stones, while not neglecting the story told by the geology of each mineral. Includes the stories of various chemists, archaeologists, jewelers, prospectors, collectors, among others. One of the most interesting geological facts I learned from Lapidarium is that the process that formed coal only took place in the Carboniferous era 360-300 million years ago, so no more coal is being formed, not even millions of years from now. I also learned from this book that Coltan is valuable because it's an ore of Tantalum. Also points out that the provenances of most of the most famous jewels are fabricated (especially the ones claiming to go back centuries). There is no Discogs entry for “Ujaraaluk Unit”. A good book to read immediately before or after reading The Name of the Rose.