The Allure of Turquoise (1995)

"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 turquoise 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 values how to recognize gem quality stones and old pawn and a fascinating essay on the affinity of ants for turquoise"--Amazon.com.