This small book, compiled by myself and Chrissy Lampitt, is not quite 50 pages long and features over 300 photos of stones found on Gemstone Beach in Southland. Its aim is to help people with identifying some of the many interesting stones found on Gemstone Beach (and elsewhere), and to appreciate their beauty and diversity. It has a wire spiral binding and reasonably hard-wearing pages. The book was launched at a meeting of the Southland Geological and Lapidary Club two weeks ago – see “The Book Launch” for my speech.
It’s worth repeating something I said at the book launch: “It has taken us some years to identify some stones, and even then we can’t be sure we’ve got it right. Identification is an ongoing learning process, and sometimes we change our minds in the light of further information. So this book is kind of a report on what we currently think. It’s by no means meant to be the final word.” We are rockhounds, not geologists.
The last two weeks have seen Chrissy and I contacting people who expressed pre-publication interest in the book, and sending out books to them. We have still not managed to message everyone, and the first print run of 100 copies has sold out. A second print run is now available. The book sells for $35, plus postage and handling in New Zealand of $7.50 non-rural or $10 rural. To get a copy, contact myself at john.tumblestone@gmail.com (I live in Whanganui in the North Island). I am currently on my way home from time spent in Southland and will reach there in a few days time, on Tuesday 29 September. Chrissy (who lives in Southland) has a contact form for book purchases on her blog here.
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