The Allure of Turquoise Author:Marc Simmons, David Gomez, Jon Bowman, Richard McCord, Jack Hartsfield, Patricia O'Connor, Ray Nelson, Emily Drabanski When the New Mexico Legislature adopted turquoise as the state gem in 1967, it officially acknowledged the importance of "the sky blue stone" in the culture and history of the Southwest. This useful book offers a variety of information about the crown jewel of New Mexico. Nine New Mexico authors provide the geology and mining history of turquois... more »e and discuss its use and significance to Native Americans. The reader will find an amazing variety of turquoise lore in essays on the Turquoise Museum, the Turquoise Trail, and the Turquoise Room on the Santa Fe Super Chief as well as helpful accounts of turquoise values¾how to recognize gem quality stones and old pawn¾and a fascinating essay on the affinity of ants for turquoise. The historians, journalists, and aficionados who have contributed essays to this book are Susan Arritt, Marc Simmons, David Gomez, Jon Bowman, Richard McCord, Jack Hartsfield, Patricia O'Connor, Ray Nelson, and Emily Drabanski.« less