Many of the Southwest's turquoise mines have closed within the last 30 years. The
well as environmental concerns make reclamation of turquoise costly.
Today, finer-quality jewelry is set with good turquoise stones, however, there is
certainly a shortage which drives the prices up. Due to the higher prices of American
turquoise. Turquoise is rated by experts by density, depth of color, and the stone's
matrix. The relative rarity of a piece of turquoise is also a factor in value.
The Turquoise Ranch collects "Old Pawn" Turquoise Jewelry for many reasons. We
love finding Turquoise set in its natural form. Natural Turquoise & Sterling Silver
were much less expensive in years past and readily available. Silver smiths could use
larger quantities of high end products due to the cost. Contemporary artists,
although very talented, have to pay the higher mark up for turquoise and silver,
making items much more expensive. We support the contemporary artists and only
purchase items made by truly skilled Native American silver smiths and made with
the highest quality materials.
well as environmental concerns make reclamation of turquoise costly.
Today, finer-quality jewelry is set with good turquoise stones, however, there is
certainly a shortage which drives the prices up. Due to the higher prices of American
turquoise. Turquoise is rated by experts by density, depth of color, and the stone's
matrix. The relative rarity of a piece of turquoise is also a factor in value.
The Turquoise Ranch collects "Old Pawn" Turquoise Jewelry for many reasons. We
love finding Turquoise set in its natural form. Natural Turquoise & Sterling Silver
were much less expensive in years past and readily available. Silver smiths could use
larger quantities of high end products due to the cost. Contemporary artists,
although very talented, have to pay the higher mark up for turquoise and silver,
making items much more expensive. We support the contemporary artists and only
purchase items made by truly skilled Native American silver smiths and made with
the highest quality materials.
Turquoise is called the "Sky Stone" by the native people of the American Southwest.
Turquoise has been mined in the American Southwest since at least A.D. 300 being
used for ceremonial purposes and everyday jewelry, sculpture, and pottery.
Much credit is given to the book: TURQUOISE UNEARTHED, an Illustrated Guide
Rio Nuevo Publishers, Text 2002, by Joe Dan Lowry & Joe P. Lowry
An excellent resource and most wonderful pictures
We invite you to explore the wonderful history of Turquoise via the internet, books,
and jewelry.
Turquoise has been mined in the American Southwest since at least A.D. 300 being
used for ceremonial purposes and everyday jewelry, sculpture, and pottery.
Much credit is given to the book: TURQUOISE UNEARTHED, an Illustrated Guide
Rio Nuevo Publishers, Text 2002, by Joe Dan Lowry & Joe P. Lowry
An excellent resource and most wonderful pictures
We invite you to explore the wonderful history of Turquoise via the internet, books,
and jewelry.
BISBEE MINE:
Bisbee turquoise is a by product of the Lander Pit copper mine, which is now closed.
Bisbee turquoise is known for its deep blue color and its smoky black matrix.
Location of Mine: Cochise County, AZ
Bisbee turquoise is a by product of the Lander Pit copper mine, which is now closed.
Bisbee turquoise is known for its deep blue color and its smoky black matrix.
Location of Mine: Cochise County, AZ
LANDER BLUE:
Today considered the rarest of all Southwestern turquoise and also the highest grade and
pound for pound the most valuable turquoise in the world.
Location: Lander County, NV
Today considered the rarest of all Southwestern turquoise and also the highest grade and
pound for pound the most valuable turquoise in the world.
Location: Lander County, NV
MORENCI:
From the large open pit Morenci copper mine, desired for its blue colors and iron pyrite,
(fool's gold,) matrix.
Location: Greenlee County, AZ
From the large open pit Morenci copper mine, desired for its blue colors and iron pyrite,
(fool's gold,) matrix.
Location: Greenlee County, AZ
LONE MOUNTAIN:
This mine produced clear, deep blue stones and some of the finest examples of spider web
turquoise.
Location: Esmeralda County, NV
This mine produced clear, deep blue stones and some of the finest examples of spider web
turquoise.
Location: Esmeralda County, NV
SLEEPING BEAUTY:
easily matched and cut. Used in many styles of Indian jewelry. Matrix is usually white
and sometimes dyed black.
Location: Gila County, AZ
easily matched and cut. Used in many styles of Indian jewelry. Matrix is usually white
and sometimes dyed black.
Location: Gila County, AZ
NUMBER 8:
Mine was active from the 1930's - 1950's. Number 8 is known for its black, golden, red,
and brown spider web matrix.
Location: Eureka County, NV
Mine was active from the 1930's - 1950's. Number 8 is known for its black, golden, red,
and brown spider web matrix.
Location: Eureka County, NV
FOX:
Fox is one of Nevada's most productive mines. The mine produces a large quantity of
good quality green or blue-green stone.
Location: Lander County, NV
Fox is one of Nevada's most productive mines. The mine produces a large quantity of
good quality green or blue-green stone.
Location: Lander County, NV
BLUE GEM:
This mine is no longer in production. Located six miles south of Battle Mountain copper
mine. It produced almost every color of green and blue turquoise known.
Location: Lander County, NV
This mine is no longer in production. Located six miles south of Battle Mountain copper
mine. It produced almost every color of green and blue turquoise known.
Location: Lander County, NV
KINGMAN:
A large supply of turquoise has been mined in the Mineral Park Mining District around
Kingman. The matrix for Kingman turquoise is usually white, sometimes dyed black.
Location: Mohave County, AZ
A large supply of turquoise has been mined in the Mineral Park Mining District around
Kingman. The matrix for Kingman turquoise is usually white, sometimes dyed black.
Location: Mohave County, AZ
CRIPPLE CREEK:
There are two mines operating in the Cripple Creek gold mining area.
Location: Teller County, CO
There are two mines operating in the Cripple Creek gold mining area.
Location: Teller County, CO
KING'S MANASSA:
Originally mined by Ancestral Pueblo people and rediscovered in 1890 by gold prospector
LP King. Known best for its brilliant greens and golden matrices, blue and blue-green
turquoise was found as well.
Location: Conejos County, CO
Originally mined by Ancestral Pueblo people and rediscovered in 1890 by gold prospector
LP King. Known best for its brilliant greens and golden matrices, blue and blue-green
turquoise was found as well.
Location: Conejos County, CO
CARICO LAKE:
Carico Lake is a large, active mine producing a variety of graded blue and green
turquoise.
Location: Lander County, NV
Carico Lake is a large, active mine producing a variety of graded blue and green
turquoise.
Location: Lander County, NV
PILOT MOUNTAIN:
Pilot Mountain is an active mine producing large amounts of turquoise with colors
ranging from blue to green with dark brown, black, or reddish matrices.
Location: Esmeralda County, NV
Pilot Mountain is an active mine producing large amounts of turquoise with colors
ranging from blue to green with dark brown, black, or reddish matrices.
Location: Esmeralda County, NV
TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN:
From the Mineral Park Mining District, Turquoise Mountain produces unique blue and
green deposits.
Location: Mohave County, AZ
From the Mineral Park Mining District, Turquoise Mountain produces unique blue and
green deposits.
Location: Mohave County, AZ
STORMY MOUNTAIN:
Distinctive for producing hard, dark blue turquoise that includes a blotchy, black chert
matrix that resembles storm clouds. This mine is not currently active.
Location: Elko County, NV
Distinctive for producing hard, dark blue turquoise that includes a blotchy, black chert
matrix that resembles storm clouds. This mine is not currently active.
Location: Elko County, NV
ROYSTON:
Originally called the Royal Blue Mine, this mine produced turquoise that had a mixture of
blues and greens in the same formation.
Location: Nye County, NV
Originally called the Royal Blue Mine, this mine produced turquoise that had a mixture of
blues and greens in the same formation.
Location: Nye County, NV
| All rights reserved for image and content 2005-2010 |
COIN SILVER 90 Parts Silver
10 Parts Other Material
GERMAN SILVER 60 Parts Silver
20 Parts Zinc
20 Parts Nickel
| THE PURCHASE OF TURQUOISE JEWELRY IS BASED ON PERSONAL PREFERENCE The more information that you have, the more likely you are to love your purchase. Seller should be willing to Authenticate that jewelry is Native American made, Quality of Turquoise Stones & Silver Content |
NATURAL TURQUOISE Accounts for less than 10 % of the Turquoise for sale on the open market
today
DYED TURQUOISE Blue, green or yellow pigment has been added to deepen the stone's color.
RECONSTITUTED Chips or fragments are crushed and mixed with epoxy to form hard cakes or
blocks that are cut into stones.
STABILIZED Low grade or chalk turquoise is combined with colorless acrylic or plastic
under pressure to harden the material or darken the color.
OILD OR WAXED A stone is soaked or cooked to deepen the color.
today
DYED TURQUOISE Blue, green or yellow pigment has been added to deepen the stone's color.
RECONSTITUTED Chips or fragments are crushed and mixed with epoxy to form hard cakes or
blocks that are cut into stones.
STABILIZED Low grade or chalk turquoise is combined with colorless acrylic or plastic
under pressure to harden the material or darken the color.
OILD OR WAXED A stone is soaked or cooked to deepen the color.
| TURQUOISE STONES QUALITY SHOULD BE DISCLOSED BY THE SELLER AND PRICED ACCORDINGLY |
| SILVER CONTENT |
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| AUTHENTICATING NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY |
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