author
Lea McIlvaine Luquer
1864–1930
A mineralogist and teacher from New York, he wrote practical guides that helped students identify minerals and understand building stones through the microscope. His work brought careful scientific observation to a wider audience at a time when geology and mineralogy were rapidly developing.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Brooklyn on September 4, 1864, Lea McIlvaine Luquer grew up in a family rooted in New York and was educated first by his father before continuing his studies at Trinity Military Institute and Columbia. He became known as a specialist in mineralogy and was associated with Columbia University as a professor of mineralogy.
Luquer wrote clear, practical books for students and readers interested in earth science. His best-known works include Minerals in Rock Sections and The Optical Recognition and Economic Importance of the Common Minerals Found in Building Stones, books that focused on identifying minerals with the microscope and understanding their practical value.
He died in 1930. Though not a household name today, his writing reflects an era when scientific handbooks were opening technical subjects to serious students, and his books remain part of the historical record of mineralogy and geological study.