About Turquoise
If there is one thing that has become synonymous with Southwest American Indian jewelry, it is the common use of the beautiful blue gemstone known as Turquoise. There are, in fact, few materials more important to the Southwest Native American tribes, who have used it for centuries for endless traditional purposes, and continue their love affair with turquoise today through their beautiful art forms.
While it is the American Indian tribes of the Southwest with which we identify the the stone with today, turquoise is found in many places around the world. As far back as the 14th Century, the people of Turkey were known for their taste for the mineral – so much so that the French named the stone after them: “turquois.”
Spiritual Significance
This beautiful stone was, and still is, viewed as a universal presence for the Indians of the Southwest because turquoise is a color reminiscent of the things many tribes revere most – sky and water. Almost every Native American tribe has made some use of this precious gem, whether for healing or aesthetic purposes.
Turquoise took on special meaning for the Navajos, specifically, as one of the four sacred stones of the Navajo tribe. Along with White Shell, Abalone, and Jet, these stones are associated with the Four Sacred Mountains, which form the traditional boundaries of Navajoland. The southern Mt. Taylor is represented by blue turquoise in Navajo religious ceremonies. Sheepherders carry a fetish of turquoise to ensure the fertility of their sheep; hunters to ensure success in the hunt; and warriors to ensure victory and a safe return. Turquoise is unquestionably more than just a stone for many Native Americans and Indian jewelry collectors.
A Stunning Spread of Natural Kingman Turquoise Cabochons
History of Turquoise
Because of its tremendous importance to so many, turquoise was mined in great amounts. In fact, throughout the Southwest, more than 200 pre-historic mines have been located – some of which were being worked as early as 300 C.E. Many Native myths and legends included turquoise: the gods had playthings, ornaments, weapons, and even houses made of turquoise. Medicine men, caciques, and shamans could not carry out their duties properly without turquoise. Indeed, few rites, festivities, or religious ceremonies took place without the official use of turquoise in some way.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, as tribes began to develop their own styles and methods of jewelry-making, turquoise became the most popular stone to appear in jewelry. Because of its early prominence, turquoise will continue to be a representation of Native American cultures and traditions for years to come, and it is certain to be showcased and preserved by beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.
Technically Speaking...
Turquoise is a hydrous basic aluminum phosphate plus copper (about 9.8% CuO, 37.6% Al2O3, 34.9% P2O5, and 17.7% H20). It is a secondary mineral, forming fine-grained solid veins in broken igneous rock, or irregular cavities in deeply altered rocks, usually occurring with limonite, kaolonite, quartz, chalcedony, or sericite. Turquoise is deposited by descending surface waters, usually acidic, percolating through seams in the bedrock during the weathering and oxidation of pre-existing minerals. The formation of turquoise only takes place in arid desert climates and is usually found near the surface of the ground. The color of turquoise varies greatly from off-white to dark blue and can be nearly 200 different shades of blue and green.
These natural turquoise nuggets are a great example of the wide spectrum of color found in turquoise.
Southwest Turquoise Mine List
- Bisbee (AZ)
- Blue Gem (NV)
- Carico Lake (NV)
- Cerillos (NM)
- Cripple Creek (CO)
- Fox (NV)
- Indian Mountain (NV)
- Kingman (AZ)
- King’s Manassa (CO)
- Lander Blue (NV)
- Lone Mountain (NV)
- Morenci (AZ)
- Number 8 (NV)
- Pilot Mountain (NV)
- Red Mountain (NV)
- Royston (NV)
- Sleeping Beauty (AZ)
- Stormy Mountain (NV)
- Turquoise Mountain (AZ)
- Tyrone (NM)
If you are interested in learning more about turquoise, we highly recommend reading “Turquoise Unearthed” by Joe Dan Lowry, widely regarded as one of the world's most knowledgeable experts on the stone.