These formulaic books present over-simplified and incomplete facts about earth materials, including explanations of their formation, examples of rock and mineral types, the ways in which people put the materials to use, and the scientists who study them. Decorative photographs, helpful diagrams, "original source" accounts, and (somewhat intrusive) Common Corerelated prompts are interspersed throughout the texts. Inadequate glossaries are appended. Reading list. Ind.