Turquoise Facts and Turquoise Mine List
American
Turquoise Mines
Mines Located
in Arizona | Mines Located
in California
Mines Located
in Colorado | Mines Located
in Nevada
Mines Located
New Mexico | Mines Located
in Utah
Global Turquoise
Deposits
Afghanistan | Africa | Armenia | Australia |
Brazil | Chile | China | Egypt
| Iran (Persian) | Israel
| Mexico | Russia | Siberia | Tibetan |Turkey
Turquoise and Turquoise Jewelry have been highly desirable
for many, many centuries by people all over the world.
This Turquoise facts section of the site will help you find
the locations of mines and sources of Turquoise. Most Turquoise
deposits are in arid to semi-arid regions in igneous rock formations
that contain high copper concentrations. Deposits of Turquoise can
be found in America, Afghanistan, Africa, Armenia, Australia, Brazil,
Chile, China, Egypt, Europe, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia,
Siberia, Tanzania, and Turkey.
American Turquoise Facts
There are Turquoise deposits in Arizona, California, Colorado,
Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Virginia. High Grade
American Turquoise is of the greatest value around the world, second
to none. American Turquoise has adorned many wonderful pieces of
jewelry, sterling silver jewelry and gold jewelry alike. Turquoise
Jewelry has adorned many people, from many countries for thousands
of years. American Turquoise specimens are usually cut with the
matrix in them, a good cutter tries to create a picture in the cabochon,
the stones have black, white or brown matrices. Many times cutters
around the world try to cut Turquoise from other countries and sell
it as American Turquoise. The Arizona copper mines-These mines are
famous for many exquisite mineral specimens, including Turquoise.
Virginia-Miners found the first examples of crystalline Turquoise
in Virginia in 1911, but Virginia has never been a source for much
gem turquoise.
Pre-Columbian America
Southwestern United States-The Anasazi had opened their Turquoise
mines by 1000 AD and had established extensive trading practices
with the peoples of what is now Mexico. The mining locations included
locations in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. In cities such as
Chaco Canyon, the Anasazi traded their Turquoise for the feathers
of tropical birds. As demand for the Anasazi Turquoise grew in the
south, the society at Chaco Canyon grew wealthy. The ancient Turquoise
jewelry of the Zuni tribes was characterized by prominent inserts
of the stone. Navajo Turquoise jewelry features die-stamped designs.
In the 16th century, the cultures of the American Southwest used
Turquoise as currency. It was also often found on the facades of
Indian homes.
Mexico-Aztec Turquoise mines began operating between 900-1000 AD.
Native American Jewelry is highly respected today.
Middle East - Persian Turquoise Facts
The major sources are in the Sinai Peninsula and Iran. Iran-The
finest of the world’s Turquoise specimens come from the deposits
in Northeastern Iran. The stones from here have the much sought
after Robin’s Egg Blue with few or now streaks and are among
the most valuable opaque gemstones. To no surprise Turquoise is
the national gem of Iran. Sinai Peninsula-The Egyptians began mining
Turquoise and making turquoise jewelry here as early as 5500 BC.
This section is intended to uncover references in history to gems,
gemstones, minerals, crystals, precious metals and semi-precious
stones and to investigate the role they played in the development
of the cultures in which they were utilized. We believe examples
of royal jewelry and ancient jewelry from anthropology, sociology
and archaeology from the ancient societies of Egypt, Mesopotamia,
Greece, Rome and especially the work of Pre-Columbian American cultures
of the North American Indians, Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans to be
of craftsmanship that has not been equaled since. Where possible
in our history of jewelry, we’ve tried to include methods of
manufacture, materials and technology. From the bible, commerce,
celestial beliefs to modern crystal collecting.
Egypt-The history of Turquoise use in the Middle East coincides
with the beginning of civilization itself. Turquoise mining began
in the Sinai Peninsula around 5500 BC. The stones taken from these
mines served jewelry, amulet and cosmetic purposes for millennia.
In 1900, archaeologists who excavated the tomb of the Egyptian Queen
Zer (5500 BC) found a Turquoise and gold bracelet on her wrist.
These are the world’s oldest known examples of surviving turquoise
jewelry.
Persia-Around 3200 BC, the kings of Egypt began annual mining expeditions
to the Sinai. In Persia, Archaeologists have found beads of Turquoise
that date around 5000 BC. Turquoise Amulets from 600 AD contained
carvings of Islamic and Persian Proverbs. The fine stones from this
area were important sources of trade and were found in graves as
far away as Turkestan and the Caucasus. These revered stones, so
important to the Persian culture, were called Ferozah, which meant
victorious. In modern times, Iran honors Turquoise as its national
gemstone.
The Bible-The book of Exodus contains an important reference to
Turquoise. The Breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest Aaron contained
twelve stones set in four rows. Turquoise was the first stone on
the second row.
Asia - Chinese and
Tibetan Turquoise
By the middle of the first millennium, AD, China had begun using
Turquoise and although they had mines in their empire, they imported
most of their stones from Persians, the Turks, the Tibetans and
Mongols. Chinese turquoise and Tibetan Turquoise is now one of most
common varieties of turquoise on the market today. Much of the turquoise
jewelry that you will see today in markets and galleries features
Tibetan turquoise or Chinese turquoise. Japan’s use of Turquoise
began in the 18th Century AD and has prospered greatly. Today the
Japanese are some of the great collectors of turquoise and have
been known to pay whatever it costs for the best, as the collectors
only want the best turquoise, usually high grade Natural American
Turquoise and Native American Turquoise Jewelry.
Europe
Around 500 BC, inhabitants in Siberia had begun using the stone,
But it did not gain favor with Western European fashion until the
late middle ages when trade with the Near and Middle East had increased.
The origin of the word Turquoise is French and comes from Venetian
Traders, who bought it from the great bazaars in Turkey, though
the Turkish traders brought it from the Persian mines. Shakespeare’s
"The Merchant of Venice” features a Turquoise ring. The
Aesthetic Period (1880-1901) responded to the strict provisions
of Queen Victoria’s mourning and jewelry became more whimsical;
Turquoise played a large role in the jewelry of this period but
played an even greater role during the Romantic Period (1837 to
1860). The light gold worked jewelry of this period contained fine
gems that were often accented by Turquoise. Still to this day
European
people love turquoise jewelry, although now mainly set in sterling
silver. |
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