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 depends on the whims of nature for its formation. It
is not a material that originated deep within the earth as a primary
mineral. Rather it relies on weathering and the ingredients of the
earth’s crust for its formation.
Turquoise is found in or near copper deposits as it depends on
the presence of copper ions for its formation. Turquoise is a hydrous
hydrate of copper, aluminum, and phosphorus. The latter element
is combined with oxygen and called the phosphate radical. Radicals
act as single chemical units, though they may be made up of two
or more elements.
There was a time when turquoise could be collected by rock hounds.
Small deposits were accessible but now it is nearly impossible to
go into the field and find and dig turquoise. Turquoise deposits
were known to the Native Americans of the Southwest long before
copper mining was a fact. In Arizona, for example, a very active
trade developed between the coastal tribes who gathered shells and
the interior tribes who dug turquoise in several places as well
as salt from the Camp Verde region of central Arizona.
When the Spaniards came to the New Work, turquoise was seen as
a common component of ceremonial and royal robes and jewelry. With
their lust for gold, the Spaniards paid little attention to this
gemstone. This is certainly not true today, as turquoise has taken
its place on the list of highly regarded gems.
When copper mining came to the New World, turquoise became more
available. Since turquoise has no ore value of consequence, it occurs
in minor amounts in copper deposits. It was possible for miners
to easily gather small fragments of turquoise rock and take them
home without hassle.
If you want to collect turquoise today, the only option is to go
to an operating mine where permission is a must. Rarely is it possible
for the individual collector to obtain good rough on his or her
own. The vast amount of turquoise being mined is obtained under
contract with one of the big copper companies operating an open
pit.
I will continue to add to this list and eventually
attempt to have a listing of all countries that mine turquoise,
and start naming the different mines or locals of the deposits in
the different countries.
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