Intrepid Explorer: The Autobiography of the World's Best Mine Finder

Sentinel Peak Books

by J. David Lowell

When seven-year-old Dave Lowell was camped out at his father’s mine in the hills of southern Arizona in 1935, he knew he had found his calling. “Life couldn’t get any better than this,” he recalls. “I didn’t know what science was, but wisps of scientific thought were already working into my plan.” So began the legendary career of the engineer, geologist, explorer, and international businessman whose life is recounted in his own words in this captivating book.An Arizona native with family roots in territorial times, Lowell grew from modest beginnings on a ranch near Nogales to become a major world figure in the fields of minerals, mining, and economic geology. He has personally discovered more copper than anyone in history and has developed multibillion-dollar gold and copper mines that have changed the economies of nations. And although he has consulted for corporations in the field of mining, he has largely operated as an independent agent and explorer, the architect of his own path and success.His life’s story unfolds in four his early education in his field, on-the-job learning at sites in the United States and Mexico, development of exploration strategies, and finally, the launch of his own enterprises and companies. Recurring themes in Lowell’s life include the strict personal, ethical, and tactical policies he requires of his colleagues; his devotion to his family; and his distaste for being away from the field in a corporate office, even to this day. The magnitude of Lowell’s overall success is evident in his list of mine discoveries, as well as in his scientific achievements and the enormous respect his friends and colleagues have had for him throughout his lengthy career, which he continues to zealously pursue.

Genres: Biography, Geology

478 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2014

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I’ve been meaning to read for years. I finally bought a used copy, and discovered that Lowell was much better at finding mines than at writing about his career. I still enjoyed a lot of the book, as I also spent much of my career as an exploration geologist working out of Tucson, working with people he mentions, or both. So it was fun reading the anecdotes about people I know. And about some of his hair-raising adventures at work! Whether other working geologists would glean much that might help them to find a mine: I don’t know. Much has changed since those free-wheeling days when Lowell made his great discoveries. Developed countries, for the most part, aren’t very interested in encouraging mineral discoveries. Canada is a noteworthy exception, and if Russia ever gets a competent and honest government, there would be a mineral exploration boom there. Or a new process of recovering minerals in situ might be found, as with hydraulic fracturing that has revitalized the American oil and gas industry.

But who knows what the future might bring? One thing is certain: people are still going to need raw materials, to build whatever clever new machines are popular then.

Lowell was a very practical-minded man, so his exploration philosophy would be worth reading by younger mineral-exploration geologists and engineers. And he was an exceptionally generous man: he donated much of the money from his discoveries to the new Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources at the University of Arizona, to train new geologists and engineers, and support practical mining-related research He made similar donations to a School of Mines in Peru. I would have loved to go into the field with Dave Lowell early in my career!

So. The audience for his book is limited, and I’m about as sympathetic a reader as he could find. He just wasn’t a very good writer. The only other review here was also hoping for more than a “series of loosely connected anecdotes.” And younger readers might find his practical-minded exploration philosophy inspiring. Overall, 4 stars for the fun reminiscing and tips, 2 stars for organization and writing style. And I don’t think a general reader outside the mining business would get much from the book.

[Vagabond Geologist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book disappointing. I expected more than just a series of loosely connected anecdotes. As a geologist it is worth reading just to mine the tidbits concerning the exploration philosophy of a highly successful man however, I don't think it is a book I will re-read.

[Andrés Canales Litvak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a 10/10 for exploration geos, but only after chapter 3-4 from the first book, begore that its pretty boring. Lowell is not a particularly a gifted writer, but he has damn good exploration stories and was for sure one of the best explorationist of his time.

For modern geos it has to be taken with a grain of salt though, nowadays is not enough to fly over prospects looking for alterarion zones and applying the “Lowell-Guilbert porphyry Cu model” but its still a great window to past discoveries.

[Asdsaasdasd · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Edward Bunker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely accessible book that documents the career of a titan of the mineral exploration industry. Getting a physical copy is definitely recommended as the photo inserts are a valuable addition.