Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide

by Joe P. Lowry

In the American Southwest, turquoise is a highly prized gemstone with great cultural significance. Author Joe Dan Lowry is recognized worldwide as a leading expert on the subject, and Turquoise An Illustrated Guide is the definitive resource for rock hounds and serious collectors alike. Lowry describes the fascinating history of turquoise mining in the American Southwest and reveals the astonishing variety of colors and forms that make this a gemstone like no other. Among Native American peoples of the Southwest, turquoise is especially prized, with blue stones symbolizing "Father Sky" and greener ones evoking "Mother Earth." This lavishly illustrated volume also features some of the finest examples of antique and contemporary Southwest Indian turquoise jewelry.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Art, Jewellery

74 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2002

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up little book on a whim -- my wife likes turquoise (OK, I do too), and we were going on a field trip to the Cerrillos District, a famous old turquoise-mining district south of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

"Turquoise Unearthed" turns out to be a real winner. The authors are the proprietors of the Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, and they really know their stuff. Informative text and excellent photos, including a nice guide to turquoise mines around the Southwest US. If you have any interest in turquoise, you should check this one out. High marks.

[Kim Messier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turquoise Unearthed is not everything you ever wanted to know about turquoise but were afraid to ask. It is, however, a helpful little guide aiding the novice buyer of modern and Southwestern Indian turquoise jewelry. It contains overviews of what turquoise is (and is not), where it is generally mined, how jewelers work with it and tips on buying quality stones.

In a quick history of the gemstone around the world and in the Four Corners region, we learn the “sky stone” of the indigenous peoples of the southwest has been mined in this area since at least A.D. 300. Combining illustrations of fine examples of stones from the “classic” mines of the region with short explanations of their characteristics makes it much easier to identify stones from individual mines than ever before.

With advances in photography and printing, this book is more capable of illustrating the minute variations in color and character of turquoise than its predecessor from 1975, Turquoise: The Gem of the Centuries by Oscar Branson. Though Branson’s book was a perennial favorite among collectors, it was widely agreed that the colors in that book were not true enough to be very helpful.

The Lowrys operate the Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, making their credentials on the subject impeccable. Though the book is extremely helpful and fun to flip through, serious collectors of turquoise jewelry will wish for a more substantial book on this subject that carries with it a very long history in the southwest.

[TroTro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my favorite Native American jewelry dealer. He said it was the best introduction to the subject.

[Maria Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts off with some history on Turquoise. The places where some Turquoise is excavated and where it is geographically found. This book contains many beautiful pictures of the different types of Turquoise. The back of the book gives information of location of museum and events that are held yearly. The cited material of where to find more books to read on the subject. Easy reading with lots of valuable information.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not comprehensive, this little book is a great starting place for learning the history and origins of turquoise in North America. Large, full-color photos aid identification and depict the amazing variety of stones among and between types. Recommended to me by a jewelry dealer at a gallery in Santa Fe.

[Jenn "JR" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book - great pictures and just enough information for a turquoise enthusiast like myself.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, pretty basic guide to turquoise, with highlights of different mines in the southwestern United States.

[Craig Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invaluable read on the origins, density, color, matrix, clarity and rarity of Turquoise. This gemstone is a recognized cultural icon of America’s Southwest.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. The more I learn about turquoise, the more my passion grows for this beautiful stone. A very enlightening and entertaining book. A must read for loves of the Stone of the Sky.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and illustrative. I want to go on a road trip and find some of these sites now.

[Hana b · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be a 3.5 if I could do that. Good book on basics, but quite short on the information you could write on turquoise. Good for the absolute turquoise beginner, and old-hands will probably find some fact they were not previously aware of.