Britannica Educational Publishing 
Investigating Minerals, Rocks, and Fossils [PDF ebook] 

Together, minerals, rocks, and fossils communicate much about Earth’s history. Much more than ornaments on a landscape, minerals and rocks are significant components of the planet’s foundation, while fossils contain clues as to the various life forms that once inhabited the planet. Readers are invited to take a closer look at the materials that have, in many ways, facilitated life, and to explore the types and categories of minerals, rocks, and fossils alike.