Millions of people throughout the world have found many hours
of pleasure, adventure and education by collecting either rocks
or shells.
This booklet won't tell you everything there is to know about
rocks and shells. That would require many large volumes. We only
want to arouse your curiosity about two delightful pastimes that
are so broad and varied that they can lead to a career or a
satisfying hobby.
Shell Oil Company's interest in the subjects comes from its
history and the nature of its business. The name--chosen by a
company that was founded years before anyone thought of drilling
for oil--comes from the seashells this company brought from the
Orient for use in mother-of-pearl items such as buttons and knife
handles.
Now its world-famous emblem (the Pecten) is recognized by millions
of people in every walk of life. It's on service stations, trucks,
buildings, oil derricks and chemical plants. Even the company's
industrial lubricants are named for shells because shells have
the same scientific names everywhere in the world.
For an oil company, rocks have a special interest. Crude oil is
found not in underground lakes or pools but in the tiny spaces
between grains of sand or in the pores of rocks. Only certain
types of rock formations are favorable to the accumulation of oil.
Thus, oilmen need to know everything they can about the right kind
of rocks.
Shell has scientists who work with rocks all day and laboratories
filled with rock, mineral and crystal specimens. We are always
learning new things about them.
The pages that follow provide basic information about two subjects
that can be richly rewarding whether you follow them for profit,
as Shell does, or for pleasure, as millions of people around the
world do.