author

Lea McIlvaine Luquer

1864–1930

A mineralogist and science writer from New York, he turned careful microscope work into clear, practical books for students and readers curious about the hidden structure of rocks.

1 Audiobook

Minerals in rock sections : The practical methods of identifying minerals in rock sections with the microscope, especially arranged for students in technical and scientific schools

Minerals in rock sections : The practical methods of identifying minerals in rock sections with the microscope, especially arranged for students in technical and scientific schools

by Lea McIlvaine Luquer

About the author

Born in Brooklyn on September 4, 1864, Lea McIlvaine Luquer became known for his work in mineralogy and petrography. A memorial published by the Mineralogical Society of America notes that he was educated first by his father, later attended Trinity Military Institute, and went on to study at Columbia, where he earned degrees in the sciences before building his academic career.

Luquer taught mineralogy at Columbia University and wrote books that helped make the subject more accessible, especially Minerals in Rock Sections, a practical guide to identifying minerals under the microscope. Listings from The Online Books Page and Project Gutenberg show that his published work centered on scientific observation and instruction, suggesting a writer who cared deeply about helping students learn how to see and classify the natural world.

He died on January 30, 1930. Although he is not widely remembered outside specialist circles today, his books preserve the voice of a patient teacher and an early expert in the close study of rocks and minerals.