

Alternately Blue and blue-green turquoise is in these deposits as well. Most notably, Manassa turquoise is best known for its rich, brilliant greens and golden matrix.

Ironically, there are Seventy-five colors, from tan to khaki-green to rich, blue-green to bright, light colors. Therefore, there is a variety of colors which develop from the minerals in the various volcanic host rocks. Most importantly, Cerrillos is the only turquoise which forms at the base of a volcano. Most noteably, it is one of the most famous prehistoric mining districts in the American Southwest. Cerrillos turquoise mine is between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico.Incidentally, the name “Tyrone” refers to a group of claims around Silver City and the Tyrone copper mine. Tyrone Turquoise is with the copper mine operations southwest of Silver City, New Mexico.Most importantly, “Bird’s eye” describes stones from this mine which show areas of light blue circles with dark blue matrix resembling the eye of a bird. Generally speaking, Turquoise Mountain turquoise is light to high blue with both web and non-web matrix. Consequently, this mine closes in the 1980’s. Turquoise Mountain and “Bird’s eye” turquoise come from the same mine in Northwestern Arizona near the Kingman mine, Mineral Park Mining District.Finally, this stone can have deep blue-green colors. In addition, Pilot Mountain turquoise ranges in color from blue to green with a dark brown, black or reddish matrix. Pilot Mountain is in Esmeralda County, Nevada.It is known for it’s brown matrix with blue circles of turquoise. Consequently, the Indian Mountain turquoise mine is in Lander County, Nevada. Indian Mountain is the best known of the contemporary mines.Notably, this mine is presently not active, so it has particular appeal. Likewise, this includes a blotchy, black chart matrix which resembles storm clouds. Along with Blue Diamond mine, Stormy Mountain produces hard, dark blue turquoise. Stormy Mountain turquoise mine is in Elko County, northeastern Nevada.Most notably, the Royston district is still producing some turquoise of high quality, but in limited supply.

Generally speaking, Royston turquoise comes in beautiful colors ranging from deep forest green to rich, light blues set off by a heavy, brown matrix. Most notably, Turquoise color, matrix, and density can vary greatly from a single turquoise mine site! First of all, Royston is actually a district in Nevada consisting of three mines: Bunker Hill, Oscar Wehrend and the largest producer, Royal Blue. Please note that even the “experts” are uncertain of the origin of some specimens. In conclusion, the following is a list of turquoise varieties from the American Southwest, mainly Nevada and Arizona mines.

Most importantly, Tucson Turquoise offers many varieties of turquoise jewelry, with an emphasis on American Southwest turquoise. Consequently, Matrix is the host rock surrounding the turquoise. Alternately, Green turquoise forms when there is iron present, which is the case with most Nevada turquoise.In general, Blue turquoise forms when there is copper present, which is the case with most Arizona turquoise.Most noteworthy, Turquoise attains it’s color from the heavy metals in the ground where it forms. Consequently, Turquoise is most often found in arid, semiarid or desert places. For this reason, it is often associated with copper deposits as a secondary mineral. In fact, Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum and is the result of percolation of meteoric or groundwater through aluminous rock in the presence of copper.First of all, Gem quality turquoise is hard.Most importantly, according to some experts, 90% of the turquoise that you will come across is stabilized Alternately, most turquoise coming out of the ground is chalky.
