Ajax turquoise is a highly prized variety of turquoise known for its distinctive and captivating colors. It ranges from bright sky blue to deep green, often featuring a mesmerizing mix of both hues within a single stone. The colors are frequently interspersed with intricate spiderweb-like matrix patterns, adding to its visual appeal and uniqueness. This variation in color and matrix results from the specific mineral content and the geological conditions where the turquoise is formed, making each piece of Ajax turquoise truly one-of-a-kind. Its high quality and unique aesthetic make it a favorite among jewelry makers and collectors alike.

What sets Ajax turquoise apart is not only its stunning appearance but also its rarity. It is primarily mined in the Ajax Mine located in the Candelaria Hills of Esmeralda County, Nevada. This mine, known for producing some of the finest turquoise, has limited output, contributing to the scarcity and desirability of Ajax turquoise. The mine’s geographical location and the specific conditions under which the turquoise forms give it a unique blend of colors and patterns that are rarely found in turquoise from other regions. Collectors and enthusiasts value Ajax turquoise for its exceptional quality, vibrant colors, and the natural beauty that reflects the unique landscape of its origin.

The color of Apache Blue Turquoise is a deep, dark blue. The turquoise is found within intense spiderwebs of black matrix, which can sometimes also contain silicates. The silica provides beautiful shiny dots when polished, making Apache Blue even more eye-catching. This turquoise is also a very hard variety of stone, making it a favorite of both artists and collectors. Apache Blue turquoise is a distinctive stone for many contemporary artists. Darryl Dean Begay uses Apache Blue Turquoise in many of his tufa cast designs.

The Apache Blue turquoise mine is a small claim located near the town of Tonopah, Nevada. It lies close to the Candelaria mine, and both are owned by the Otteson family. The Ottesons use a combination of modern and ancient techniques to produce beautiful Apache Blue stones.

The Apache Blue mine is an open pit operation. The miners use carefully placed dynamite charges to blast away host rock, then use a backhoe to remove the debris. Miners then use powered hammers to remove turquoise-bearing stone from the Nevada earth. Those stones are sorted, tumbled, washed, screened, and then washed a second time. Finally, the turquoise nuggets are sent to be cut, backed, and polished into useable cabochons.

Bisbee turquoise is definitely one of the more sought after and highly collectible turquoise stones available today. Bisbee turquoise was one of the first available on the American market and is now a very recognizable stone. A typical Bisbee turquoise stone is known to have a high and deep blue coloration with “chocolate brown” matrix. Sometimes the stone has a greenish tint. These stones are usually easy to identify and classify as being Bisbee.

Bisbee Turquoise Mine
The Bisbee turquoise mine, located in southeastern Arizona, was originally founded in the 1950’s by the Phelps Dodge Company. Turquoise deposits were continuously mined until the 1960’s. Unfortunately, the largest deposits of turquoise were hauled off to dumps and discarded simply because at that particular time the turquoise was unwanted. Luckily, many of the workers for the company would seize the turquoise at their own risk by picking it up themselves; sometimes even hauling the stones home in lunchboxes. This sparked the distribution of the Bisbee turquoise stone. Bisbee turquoise is no longer being mined; therefore this stone one of most valuable turquoise stones being used in the higher-end Native American jewelry today!

Candelaria turquoise is known for its bright, almost electric blue color. The matrix ranges from a black to a reddish brown, with moderate spiderwebbing. The rarest Candelaria stones have bits of gold held within the matrix. Candelaria turquoise is a favorite of Navajo artist Darryl Dean Begay.

Candelaria Turquoise Mine
The Candelaria Turquoise mine is located in the Candelaria Hills, east of Tonopah, Nevada. The mine is situated next to a large gold mine, which is what originally drew miners to the Candelaria Hills. The mine has been open since the 1860’s and much of the turquoise has been removed and sold. However, a small operation still exists at Candelaria and the turquoise produced is high grade.

Candelaria Turquoise mine is also well known for producing high-quality variscite, which is a geologic cousin of turquoise. The stone has a very similar molecular composition to turquoise but is bright green in color. Variscite is a beautiful stone for use in silver jewelry, but it doesn’t have the long history of turquoise and is often valued less.

The Carico Lake turquoise mine is located in Lander County, Nevada just near Battle Mountain. The turquoise has been highly sought after by collectors because of some of the unique bright lime green turquoise stones. The mine also produces other shades of blue. The matrix can be a dull grey to a golden brown often forming the popular spiderweb pattern.

The color of Cerrillos turquoise runs the entire range of the turquoise spectrum. Small volcanoes dot the area and may explain the rapid shift in color between bright blue and deep green deposits. That bright blue turquoise is usually associated with the stones mined by the Tiffany Company in the early 1900’s. Other Cerrillos deposits produced a deep, dark green stone with brown matrix. In addition, the majority of Cerrillos turquoise is considered to be “high grade”, which is harder than the average turquoise stone.


The Cerrillos turquoise mine (pronounced Sir-EE-ohs) is a very famous mine located in central New Mexico. The mine is actually a series of deposits in the hills 10 miles south of Santa Fe, NM. This turquoise has been mined for centuries, starting with the ancient Pueblos in the 13th century. Over time, the Spanish and Americans also saw the value and beauty of Cerrillos turquoise. The turquoise deposits were close to the surface and easy to mine and were also close to the major population centers. Turquoise production ramped up in the 1890’s, and by 1950 the Cerrillos mine was depleted.

Cerrillos turquoise holds a special place in the history of Native American jewelry, and turquoise mining lore. The mine produced the first high-grade turquoise in North America, and the age of Cerrillos turquoise makes it extremely valuable! Also, this turquoise is the only mine found to be near recently active volcanoes. The singular uniqueness of Cerrillos turquoise cannot be understated.

The majority of Cheyenne turquoise is a light, almost cream green color. Matrix colors float around medium to dark brown. The higher grade Cheyenne stones range into the blue spectrum and feature intense spiderweb matrix. The color and hardness of Cheyenne turquoise make it a popular stone for Native artists.

The Cheyenne turquoise mine is located 20 miles north of Tonopah, in southwestern Nevada. It was originally a gold prospecting claim but was taken over by the turquoise mining Otteson family decades ago. The mine produces high-grade stones and was recently sold to a new owner.

The color of Dry Creek (Godbur Burnham) turquoise makes it unique among natural American stones. The turquoise is a very light blue/green, almost off-white. The matrix ranges from dark brown to a light golden color. The unique color is due to the absence of metals in the ground where the turquoise was formed. Blue turquoise, such as Kingman and Sleeping Beauty, is commonly found near deposits of copper. Green turquoise is usually found alongside aluminum or iron. The area around Dry Creek has none of these, so the turquoise was forged as a beautiful cream color.

Dry Creek Turquoise Mine
The Dry Creek turquoise mine is located outside of Austin, Nevada. The claim area includes a number of other mines, including the Godber/Burnham mine. The area has been mining turquoise for almost 100 years, however the specific stones called Dry Creek mine has only been producing for a couple of decades.

The unique color and composition of Dry Creek turquoise has made it a very popular stone for contemporary artists and collectors. However, the color is so light that gem experts were initially skeptical that stones coming from this mine were actually turquoise. Other white stones such as howlite, calcite, and magnesite were considered. Later chemical tests confirmed that Dry Creek is truly turquoise, and in fact a very high grade stone.

The color of Easter Blue turquoise is unique among turquoise found in the Royston Mining District. Most turquoise found in southwestern Nevada is a shade of green. Instead, Easter Blue stones are a deep shade of blue, which has been compared to a robin’s egg. The matrix ranges from dark brown to a very bright golden or even an orange shade. This turquoise is exceedingly beautiful when set into sterling silver.

Easter Blue Turquoise Mine
The Easter Blue Turquoise Mine is located in the Royston district in south central Nevada.

Easter Blue Turquoise Mine
The Easter Blue turquoise mine is a small claim located in southwestern Nevada. The mine is found in the Royston Mining District, along with many other active turquoise producing claims. The Easter Blue mine was initially claimed in 1907. It is a small mine compared to many other claims, however the beauty and unique color of Easter Blue make it a popular stone for collectors. In the past, this mine’s turquoise has also been called Blue Mountain and Blue Gem.

The Kingman turquoise mine produces a relatively wide range of colors and matrix patterns. The mine’s large size allows for the different turquoise color composition. The color ranges from a dark blue with black matrix, all the way to a green with brown matrix. ­­The highest grade Kingman turquoise usually contains pyrite in the matrix, leading to a very beautiful final polished stone.

However, the dominant turquoise color associated with the Kingman mine is a deep blue speckled with black matrix. The amount and quality produced by the mine has led to this stone becoming popular with many Native silversmiths. The Kingman Blue nuggets display a uniform style that lends very well to turquoise row bracelets. Kingman Blue turquoise is often featured in squash blossom necklaces for that same reason. In many ways, Kingman Blue has become synonymous with American turquoise.

The Kingman turquoise mine has a long and productive history. Archaeological evidence has shown that turquoise mining has been present there for over 1,400 years, dating back to the ancient Hohokam culture. In modern times the mine ownership changed hands throughout the 19th century, but it has been owned by the Colbaugh family since the early 20th century.

The Kingman turquoise mine is located in northwestern Arizona. It is named after the town of Kingman, situated 14 miles to the southeast. The closest major city is Las Vegas, Nevada. The Kingman site is next to a large copper mine, which is commonly found alongside turquoise. In fact, the presence of copper is what gives the Kingman Blue turquoise its distinctive hue. Within the umbrella of the Kingman name are actually three separate claims: Mineral Park, Ithaca Peak, and Aztec Mountain. All are known as Kingman turquoise.

The color of Lone Mountain turquoise ranges across the blue spectrum, from light cream blue to a deep, dark blue. The highest grade of Lone Mountain turquoise is the dark blue with black spiderweb matrix, and is sometimes confused with Lander Blue. Navajo artist Aaron Anderson counts this turquoise as one of his favorite to use. Lone Mountain turquoise ranks higher than most other turquoise on the hardness scale, which may explain one of the unique qualities of these stones.

The Lone Mountain Turquoise mine is located a short distance outside of Tonopah, Nevada. Lone Mountain has been a prolific producer of quality American turquoise since the mine opened in the 1920’s. Lone Mountain turquoise was used in much of the Native American jewelry made during the 1930’s – 1940’s. However, early mining in the claim was unorganized, haphazard and led to unsafe conditions, including unstable tunnels. The modern mine owners have collapsed those tunnels and returned Lone Mountain mine to a safe, environmentally friendly mining operation.

Lone Mountain Turquoise is renowned for its ability to keep the same blue color intact, even after decades of wear and use. Turquoise will naturally absorb oils from hands and hair, which over the years will slowly change the stone’s color. Usually, this will take a blue stone to a light green color. Lone Mountain turquoise, even those stones mined during the early 20th century, still shine a brilliant blue.

The Morenci turquoise mine provides high return of beautiful blue color, which varies from light to very dark blue. This blue is a similar shade to turquoise found at other Arizona mines, such as Kingman or Sleeping Beauty. However, Morenci turquoise is a harder stone and often has a richer color than other Arizona turquoise. The matrix consists of iron pyrite or “fool’s gold” that when polished often looks like silver. This matrix makes Morenci turquoise a prized and sought after stone for valuable Native jewelry pieces.

The Morenci turquoise mine is located in Greenlee County, Arizona. The Morenci mine was initially mined for its copper deposits. Equipment operators would “lunch box” blue high-quality turquoise away from the mine and sell to collectors. The turquoise found at Morenci eventually became worth more than the copper.

From 1956 to 1984 the turquoise rights were granted to William” Lucky “Brown, who also owned the Villa Grove Mine in Colorado. Production was mined in large quantities and sold through the family-owned station in New Mexico and Arizona. The Morenci copper mine is the largest in the United States and still produces more than 750,000,000 pounds of copper per year.

Morningstar turquoise is renowned for its stunning color, often highlighted with dark black or brown matrix patterns that create striking visual contrasts. The richness of the blue hue and the bold matrix make Morningstar turquoise highly sought after by jewelers and collectors. The stones are known for their hardness and durability, which makes them ideal for crafting into intricate jewelry pieces. Each piece of Morningstar turquoise displays a unique pattern, resulting from the specific mineral content and the geological conditions of the mine, ensuring that no two stones are exactly alike.

The uniqueness of Morningstar turquoise lies not only in its vibrant coloration but also in its limited availability. It is primarily mined in the Morningstar Mine located in the Mineral County of Nevada. This mine is known for producing high-quality turquoise with exceptional depth of color and distinctive matrix patterns. The specific conditions of the Morningstar Mine, including its mineral-rich environment, contribute to the unique characteristics of the turquoise found there. Because the output from the Morningstar Mine is relatively limited, the turquoise extracted from it is considered rare and highly prized in the market, making it a valuable addition to any collection

Typical Number 8 turquoise is light green, with a golden brown spiderweb matrix. High-grade Number 8 mine turquoise has a very deep blue coloration with black or red spiderweb matrix. This turquoise is used by talented artists who create magnificent and top-quality pieces. The Number 8 mine turquoise is rare and highly collectible. The unique spiderweb matrix gives the stone a unique look, and Number 8 turquoise is recognized all over the world.

The Number 8 turquoise mine is located outside of Carlin, Nevada. Production of turquoise began in 1929. Over the next few decades, the claim was mined intensely and produced large amounts of high-quality stones. The Number 8 turquoise mine produced some of the largest and most beautiful nuggets known to collectors and experts today. One of the largest nuggets ever found, over 150 lbs, is on display at the Albuquerque Turquoise Museum.

Pilot Mountain stones have been treasured by artists and collectors for decades. The coloration ranges from a deep blue to sea green. The unique quality of Pilot Mountain turquoise is the color graduation within the stones. This turquoise will often show blue AND green across the same stone. This quality makes Pilot Mountain turquoise valuable and sought after by collectors. The matrix colors are usually a deep brown and black, with partial spiderwebbing.

The Pilot Mountain turquoise mine has been producing beautiful stones since 1908. The mine is located in western Nevada, near the small town of Mina. At first this mine was a small tunnel mine, however, production greatly increased in the 1970’s when heavy machinery was added. In recent times the mine has returned to a small, one family operation. Pilot Mountain turquoise is found in thin seams and produces few large nuggets. However, the turquoise is hard and takes an excellent polish.

Royston Turquoise is recognized for its dominantly green to lighter blue color range. Many stones display a combination of its darker and lighter green colors in a layered pattern. The matrix is usually a dark brown but can get lighter into the yellow or golden range. The dark greens contrast will with the gold matrix and the lighter blues with the dark brown matrix. The deeper and darker color variations are highly desired and can very valuable. Not many other mines can mimic the look of Royston, however, sometimes Chinese turquoise stones can have a similar color. A few of the lighter green turquoise from the Royston mine, that display little matrix, can sometimes approach the look of Cheyenne turquoise.

Native American artists like to use Royston turquoise in their jewelry as it is high quality and mined locally. The distinctive green color gives great contrast with other stones used in jewelry such as red coral, orange spiny oyster and even other shades of turquoise. It is usually common to find the more established artists using Royston turquoise, as it can be more expensive than turquoise from other active mines.

The Royston Turquoise Mine produces a good quantity of high-quality turquoise stones. It is one of the few remaining American active mines. The Royston Turquoise Mine is located in southwestern Nevada in the Royston District near the city of Tonapah. Originally a tunnel mine, it was discovered in 1902 by Lee F. Hand. It originally consisted of four claims; Bunker Hill, Easter Blue, Oscar Wehrend and Royal Blue. The mine is one of the oldest and longest active in Nevada. Acquired by Lynn Otteson in 1958, it is now small operation open pit mine operated by the Otteson Family. The Otteson family mines turquoise a few times a year and does all the fine processing.

The Globe, Arizona area has large copper deposits, which gives Sleeping Beauty turquoise its distinctive blue hue. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is uniform in color compared to the range that most mines produce. It also features little to no matrix, also a unique quality. The bright medium blue color of Sleeping Beauty makes it very popular for cluster, needlepoint, and inlay artists. These artists can depend on a uniform blue color across their design, allowing for their design to star instead of the turquoise.

The uniformity of Sleeping Beauty turquoise has one more effect: it is easy to make “Sleeping Beauty” block (plastic) turquoise. Cheaper cluster designs on other sites will often use that medium blue block plastic, instead of real turquoise.

The Sleeping Beauty turquoise mine is located just outside the town of Globe, in southern Arizona. Intensive copper mining in the area throughout the 20th century uncovered large amounts of turquoise deposits. In fact, mine owner Monty Nichols cited a production amount of 1,600 lbs per month, at the mine’s peak. However, Sleeping Beauty turquoise is one of the softer stones on the market, and much of it must be stabilized before it can be used in jewelry.

Turquoise has been used as an iconic gemstone in Chinese jewelry for centuries. Chinese bronze artwork with turquoise accents dates back 3,500 years ago. Chinese turquoise was often used to supplement or replace jade, which was valued higher by Chinese culture throughout history. Much of the turquoise used by Chinese artists were imported from the Mongol and Turkic regions of central Asia. Wide-scale turquoise mining is a relatively modern development in the central Chinese province of Hubei.

Chinese Turquoise Color and Grade
China is a vast country, and the many turquoise mines within it produce colors across the entire range from light blue to dark green. High-grade Chinese turquoise compares well with the best American stones, bringing deep colors and spiderweb matrix. However, almost no high-grade Chinese turquoise is sold in the United States. High-grade stones are snapped up quickly by artists and collectors within China, so any Chinese turquoise found in the United States is going to be medium grade at best.

Most Chinese turquoise found today is lower grade stabilized chalk turquoise. The stones are infused with resin, to make the stone workable. Some less scrupulous producers will also inject the resin with dyes, to make the stone’s colors more vibrant. Sadly, this type of stone is cheap to produce and use in jewelry, so many foreign reproductions will use Chinese turquoise. If you stop into a tourist trap along a New Mexican freeway, it is likely to be full of pieces using this stabilized Chinese turquoise.

Chinese Turquoise Mines
Modern Chinese turquoise accounts for much of the current world turquoise supply. Chinese mines are productive, and much less restricted by regulations than their Western counterparts. In fact, the Chinese government has had to slow or stop production at many mines in recent years, due to rampant pollution and safety hazards. A turquoise fashion boom has created a higher internal demand for turquoise within China, as well. These factors make Chinese turquoise less dominant on the current open market. Where Chinese turquoise accounted for upwards of 80% of all raw turquoise sold in the United States in the early 2000’s, now that number is closer to 50%.