Turquoise Mines List

A Collector's Map: Turquiose of the Southwest

Every piece of genuine turquoise is a miracle of geology, a fingerprint of the specific time and place on Earth where it was formed. Its color, character, and matrix tell a story not just of beauty, but of origin. For collectors and artisans, knowing the mine is knowing the soul of the stone.

Consider this your map to the most legendary and coveted turquoise mines in the world. From the rich turquoise belts of Arizona and Nevada to the ancient sources of the Sinai Peninsula, let's explore the treasures that have defined the pinnacle of turquoise quality and rarity.

The Arizona Turquoise Belt: A Legacy in Blue

Arizona has long been a powerhouse of turquoise production, home to some of the most iconic and recognizable varieties in the world.

Kingman Turquoise: As one of the oldest and largest-producing mines, Kingman is the classic American turquoise. It’s celebrated for its stunning sky-blue hues and can feature a variety of matrix patterns, from silvery webs to bold black formations. You can see the timeless beauty of this Arizona classic in our Nizhóní Navajo Turquoise Concho Hat Band, where artisan has masterfully set exceptional Kingman stones in sterling silver.
Sleeping Beauty Turquoise: Named for the mountain where it was found, which resembles a sleeping woman, this turquoise is the stuff of dreams. The mine, now closed, produced a pure, uniform, robin's egg blue with little to no matrix, making it exceptionally rare and valuable. We are proud to feature this coveted, pure blue turquoise in our limited-edition Boot Scootin' Boot Jewelry, offering a rare chance to wear a piece of this legendary mine's legacy.
Bisbee Turquoise: A connoisseur's choice, Bisbee turquoise was a byproduct of a massive copper mine. Now depleted, its stones are revered for an intense, brilliant blue color and a unique, hard chocolate-brown or smoky, lavender-hued matrix. It is one of the most beautiful and collectible turquoises in the world.
Morenci Turquoise: Another treasure from a copper mine, Morenci is famous for its striking iron pyrite (fool's gold) matrix. The brilliant silver-colored pyrite running through the vibrant blue turquoise gives it a dazzling, unmistakable sparkle. The mine is closed, placing Morenci in the top tier of collectible stones.

Nevada's Turquoise Treasures: A Spectrum of Rarity

Nevada is home to an incredible diversity of turquoise mines, producing stones with a vast range of colors and matrix patterns. Many of the rarest and most valuable turquoise varieties come from the Silver State.

Royston Turquoise: A true artist's stone, the Royston district is known for producing turquoise with a breathtaking color range, often within the same stone. Hues shift from soft baby blues to deep forest greens, all accented by a heavy, golden-brown matrix. The unique character of Royston is perfectly showcased alongside other gems in our versatile Boot Scootin' Boot Jewelry, creating a beautiful study in the diversity of American turquoise.
Lander Blue Turquoise: The holy grail for collectors. Discovered in 1973, this "hat mine"—a deposit so small it was said to fit under a hat—produced less than 110 pounds of the highest-grade spiderweb turquoise ever found.With its deep blue and black webbed matrix, Lander Blue is the rarest and most valuable turquoise on the market.
Lone Mountain Turquoise: Famed for its ability to hold its stunning color over time, Lone Mountain produces some of the finest spiderweb turquoise. Its stones often feature a deep blue color, and the best examples, known as "fossil turquoise," sometimes have pseudomorphs—imprints of ancient plant fossils.
Number 8 (#8) Turquoise: Depleted in 1976, the #8 mine produced exceptional spiderweb turquoise. It's instantly recognizable for its golden-brown to black matrix set against a backdrop of light blue to blue-green. Its unique and beautiful web patterns make it a highly sought-after collector's gem.
Red Mountain Turquoise: This Nevada mine is known for producing high-grade turquoise that rivals the quality of the best Persian material. Its stones often feature a deep, vibrant blue with an intricate, reddish-brown spiderweb matrix, making them extremely desirable.
Calico Lake Turquoise: A unique Nevada variety, Calico Lake turquoise is known for its light, often chalky blue-green hues and a softer composition. While not as hard as other Nevada gems, its distinct character has earned it a place among collectors.

Beyond the Southwest: An Ancient Royal Gem

While the American Southwest is famous for its turquoise, the stone's history began long before in another desert across the world.

Egyptian Prince Turquoise: The Sinai Peninsula is home to the oldest known turquoise mines on Earth, active for thousands of years. Often called Egyptian turquoise, these stones were cherished by pharaohs and ancient royalty. They typically have a characteristic blue-green to green color, often with a reddish-brown matrix, and represent the most ancient chapter in turquoise's long and storied history.

Turquoise of the Southwest Map from our relatives at Navajo Traditional Teachings

From the Mine to a Masterpiece

When an artisan chooses a stone for a piece of jewelry, they are selecting a story. This transformation from a raw mineral to a work of art is perfectly embodied in pieces like our Rough Rider Leather Concho Hat Band. Renowned Navajo artisan, Lee Charley, masterfully selects each exquisite turquoise cabochon for its individual character and beauty, setting them in intricately stamped sterling silver to create a true heirloom that honors the spirit of the stone.

The name of a mine signifies a pedigree of color, quality, and rarity. It ensures that you are not just wearing a beautiful stone, but a rare artifact from a specific, often long-gone, treasure trove within the earth. As you continue your journey, let this map guide you in appreciating the incredible diversity and profound legacy of the world's most captivating gem, Turquoise.