| Example Pictures are not necessarily the
highest of grade, rather a good example of a
common look from a particular |
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 Bisbee Turquoise
The Bisbee mine "the Lavender Pit", near
Bisbee, Arizona, is one of the more famous of
the American mines because Bisbee turquoise was
one of the first put onto the market. The
Arizona turquoise mine is part of the Bisbee
copper mine (The Copper Queen), the main
operation of the site. Bisbee turquoise has
developed a reputation as a hard, finely webbed
or dendrite, high blue stone, known for its
"chocolate brown" matrix. Bisbee Turquoise also
comes in a beautiful dark green color. Most of
this turquoise has already been mined and what
is left is in limbo due to circumstances with
the copper mining in the open pit, it is one of
the most highly collected stones. Most jewelry
being made with this stone today is being made
via the orders of the current owners of the
mine, the rest (such as ours, which is all hand
cut and mounted in silver jewelry by Durango
Silver Co.) is found through old "stashes" or
collections that have been obtained. Bisbee
Turquoise Jewelry is some of the most desired
jewelry on the market.
More Bisbee Turquoise Information |
Bisbee
Turquoise Jewelry
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 Castle
Dome - AKA Pinto Valley
Most of Arizona’s turquoise mines are
actually large open pit copper mines that the
turquoise deposits are leased .The company or
person with the lease is called in to mine the
turquoise when they hit a pocket of it as they
are copper mining. This is a mine that was very
active back in the 1970’s. Being in Albuquerque
in the turquoise business in the 1970’s was very
interesting, lots of stone! We bought turquoise
from people that would show up at our shop, we
would buy it out of their trunks of cars, pick
up truck beds, hoods of cars in parking lots.
This makes killer traditional turquoise jewelry.
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 Cave
Creek
The Cave Creek Mine is a new mining
operation, run by a father and son outside of
Cave Creek, Arizona. The material we have seen
so far is very beautiful. It is medium to dark
blue in color and has an "old Kingman" or
Morenci look to it, a lot of times with pyrite
in it. Awesome stuff! Have not seen much yet.
Wait till you see this in some high quality
silver jewelry. This makes wonderful Arizona
turquoise jewelry. |
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 Ithaca Peak
The Ithaca Peak mine is located in northwestern
Arizona above the Kingman mine. The Ithaca Peak
mine is famous for its beautiful blue with
pyrite matrix. This material is outstanding. It
is owned and operated by the Colbaugh's. It is
fairly rare to get good Ithaca Peak as main
production is focused on Turquoise Mountain.
When you do get good Ithaca Peak it is very
pricey!
More Ithaca Peak Arizona Turquoise Information |
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 Kingman
Turquoise
The Kingman mine in northwestern Arizona was
one of the largest turquoise mines in North
America. The terms "Kingman" or "high blue"
refer to the blue color usually displayed in
this stone. It has become a color standard in
the industry. The mine became famous for its
rounded, bright blue nuggets with black matrix.
Few turquoise mines produced nuggets, especially
of this quality. Old natural Kingman Arizona
Turquoise is rare. The Colbaugh's own this mine
and the Turquoise Mountain mine, their company
name is Colbough Processing. They have recently
gone back into the section of the Kingman mine
and are digging and bringing our some new
Natural Kingman Turquoise. Most of the turquoise
jewelry you see today features Kingman
turquoise.
More Kingman
Turquoise Information |
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 Morenci
Turquoise
Morenci Turquoise is mined in southeastern
Arizona. It is high to light blue in color.
Morenci has an unusual matrix of irregular black
pyrite that, when polished, often looks like
silver. Morenci turquoise is well known because
it was one of the first American turquoises to
come on the market. It is very difficult to
obtain now because the mine is depleted. It is a
collectible turquoise. Wearing a piece of
turquoise jewelry featuring Morenci turquoise
puts you in the collectors circle fast.
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 Sleeping Beauty Turquoise
The Sleeping Beauty mine is located near Globe,
Arizona. Its turquoise is noted for its solid,
light blue color with no matrix. Sleeping Beauty
turquoise is the favorite of the Zuni Pueblo
silversmiths for use in petit point,
needlepoint, and inlay jewelry. This mine is one
of the largest in North America and is still
operating. Another staple of today turquoise
jewelry industry. Most of the robin's egg blue
turquoise you see today is sleeping beauty
turquoise. |
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 Turquoise
Mountain and "Birdseye"
Turquoise Mountain and "Birdseye" turquoise
come from the same mine in northwestern Arizona
near the Kingman mine. The mine was closed in
the 1980s. It is light to high blue, with both
webbed and non-webbed matrix. "Birdseye"
describes stones from this mine that show areas
of light blue circled with dark blue matrix,
resembling the eye of a bird. It is a beautiful
addition to one's collection. If you have a
collection of turquoise jewelry you definitely
need this!!
More Turquoise Mtn. Information |
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 Blue
Bird Mine
Little is known about this mine. I am told it
is located in Cochise county out in the desert..
really descriptive huh... the guy I buy this
from is real secretive and funny about it. It
produces some killer rock!!! Dark blue with
white quartz and black matrix!!! Very hard solid
material. I love it. Look for this in silver
jewelry on our website soon. |
| Example Pictures are not necessarily the
highest of grade, rather a good example of a
common look from a particular |
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I will continue to add to this list and
eventually attempt to have a listing of all
turquoise mines that have existed in Arizona. I
need your help! If you know of another
legitimate mining operation or old mine claim in
Arizona, contact me at:
durangodillon@gmail.com |
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