Colorado Turquoise Mines And Turquoise Facts
Example Pictures are not necessarily
the highest of grade, rather a good example of a common look from
a particular mine.
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Cripple Creek Turquoise
Mines
(Elkhorn Claim, Florence Turquoise Mine, O'Haver Claim, Roanoke
Shaft, Hidden Treasure Turquoise Mine)
The Cripple Creek in Teller County, Colorado is the site
of a number of small gold mines. Cripple Creek turquoise is
found primarily as a by-product of gold mining. One of the
groups still mining the site are the Bad Boys of Cripple Creek.
This area yields some greenish turquoise, and some light to
dark blue turquoise with brown matrix. It is a little more
common to see turquoise jewelry with Cripple Creek Turquoise. On a rare occassion Cripple Creek Turquoise has been found with gold inclusions..
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Leadville Turquoise
(Turquoise Chief Turquoise Mine or Josie May
Turquoise)
Colorado does not have many turquoise mines but the few
that it has are good ones. The stones usually have a lot of
individual character, and vibrant colors. We have not seen much
of this material in many years, therefore consider it very rare
and hard to come by. Had some silver jewelry with Leadville
in it, and it was gorgeous. |
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Manassa (King's Mine or Lickskillet Mine)
Manassa turquoise is mined out of Manassa in
south central Colorado. It is known for its blue-green to green
color with a golden or brown, non-webbed matrix. The Manassa
mine is still in production, and owned by the King family, thus
the alternate name sometimes used for this turquoise. The Manassa
mine used to be call the Lickskillet Turquoise Mine in the old
days. This stone is one of our favorite Turquoise varieties!
Although, King's Manassa turquoise is gorgeous in turquoise
jewelry with sterling silver, the beautiful green color is VERY
striking, excellent when used in gold.
More about Manassa Turquoise | Manassa Turquoise Jewelry
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Villa Grove
Villa Grove Turquoise was some of the finest Turquoise
to ever come out of American soil. The Villa Grove Mine in
Colorado is currently covered by a small mountain lake created
by runoff and a natural spring, therefore is not being mine
currently. The Mine was last owned by George Musik and before
that by Menless Winfield. The turquoise is vivid deep blue,
the only other turquoise we have seen with the highly coveted
Bisbee Blue coloration or an absolutely stunning electric
blue, the difference is the matrix is gold rather then brownish
red, and usually a fine spider web or dendrites. The high-grade
Villa Grove Turquoise in our opinion is incomparable, definitely
the most beautiful Turquoise we have ever seen including Bisbee,
and Lander Blue! The blue in the high-grade is so blue that
a few cabs will turn a whole wall blue! This stone is very
rare these days, especially the high-grade. Turquoise jewelry
should thank Villa Grove for being around to make it greater!
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Other Colorado Turquoise Mines:
Creede District
Holycross District
Sugarloaf District
Summitville District
Example Pictures are not necessarily
the highest of grade, rather a good example of a common look from
a particular mine.
I will continue to add to this list and eventually
attempt to have a listing of all Colorado turquoise mines that have existed. I need your help! If you know of another legitimate mining
operation or old mine claim in Colorado, contact me at: durangodillon@gmail.com |