Stormy Mountain Turquoise: Field Guide to Elko County's Black Matrix Mine

Stormy Mountain turquoise — also marketed as Carlin Black Matrix or Sunnyside — comes from Elko County, Nevada, and was a heavy producer throughout the 1970s. Primary source documentation for this mine is limited; this page reflects that honestly and does not fill gaps with unsupported description.

Field Notes by Mateo James

Lowry's account establishes the discovery: "These deposits were discovered by a cowboy named Sonny Maulden, who told Cutler Edgar about his find." The Cutler Edgar connection links Stormy Mountain to the broader network of Nevada turquoise operators who circulated through multiple mines during the mid-to-late twentieth century. Lowry documents it as a heavy producer throughout the 1970s.

The "black matrix" and "Stormy Mountain" marketing names both suggest dark, high-contrast matrix patterns — the kind of visual that photographs dramatically and commands collector attention. The Carlin Black Matrix designation places it geographically near the Carlin, Nevada area. Whether "Stormy Mountain" is a geographic name, a trade designation, or something in between is not clarified in available primary sources.

What the corpus does not provide: specific color range beyond what the marketing names imply; detailed stone character description; or post-1970s production history. These are honest gaps, not oversights in this guide.

Collector's Handbook

What to look for: The "black matrix" designation implies dark, high-contrast matrix patterns — but specific visual documentation in primary sources is limited. Assess stone on its own merits.

Recognition tells: 1970s production peak is documented. Claims of earlier or later production from this specific deposit are not confirmed in available primary sources and should be evaluated carefully.

Honest mine-status hedge: Heavy 1970s production is documented by Lowry. Current status is not confirmed in available primary sources. This is a thin-documentation mine, and this guide says so plainly.

Related mine guides: Pages for Bisbee, Sleeping Beauty, Number Eight, Cerrillos, Royston, Kingman, Lander Blue, and Morenci mines are coming soon to this field guide.

References

Lowry, Joe Dan. Turquoise: The World Story of a Fascinating Gemstone (2010), ~lines 11769–11783. [Primary source — brief entry.]