Dig into the world of geology with the Rock On! series! Groovy Gems introduces readers to what gems are and how they form, including mineral gems and organic gems. Chapters discuss crystal systems, imitation and synthetic gems, cultured pearls, how gems are used, and their importance throughout history. Sidebars introduce birthstones, precious metals, and conflict diamonds. Full-color photographs of brilliant diamonds, pearls, geodes, star sapphires, and more will draw in readers while the easy-to-read text breaks down complex concepts. A colorful world map of where gems are found spreads across two pages and an at-home experiment provides the opportunity for hands-on experience. Glossary words in bold, an index, and phonetic spellings for those hard-to-pronounce geologic terms enhance and supplement the text. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.