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Arizona Turquoise Mines
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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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 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 by Durango Silver Co.)
is found through old "stashes" or collections that have been
obtained.
Bisbee
Turquoise Jewelry
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Castle Dome Later
Called 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
minnig. 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.
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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, alot of times with pyrite in it. Awesome stuff!
Have not seen much yet.
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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 Turquoise Information | Ithaca
Peak Jewelry
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Kingman
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 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.
More Kingman
Turquoise Information | Kingman
Turquoise Jewelry
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Morenci
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.
Morenci
Turquoise Jewelry
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Sleeping Beauty
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.
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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.
More
Turquoise Mtn. Information
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Blue Bird Mine
This is an obscure little mine that hasn't produced much. I am not
sure why as it is killer material. I have bought a few pounds and
that is it. I would love to know more about this mine and be able
to get more rough. It produces a heavy quarts matrix stone that is
a deep medium blue. Really great stuff.
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 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
We are always looking for great
Turquoise and rare turquoise examples from all over the world. Please
contact us if you know were to come across any, right now we are looking
for Turquoise from California, Montana, Utah, and Virginia. We are
looking for Australian Turquoise. We collect other rare gemstones.
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