Where American Turquoise Comes From — mines, map, and a short guide
- Santa Fe Sun Handmade
- Oct 5, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Turquoise is one of the iconic stones of the American Southwest — its blue-greens are tied to landscapes, history, and Native craft. Most turquoise deposits in the U.S. are located in the Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado and parts of California/Utah), and several individual mines have become famous for uniquely consistent color, matrix, or scarcity.
The Big Picture: geology & geography
Turquoise forms in arid climates where the copper in the rocks weathers and combines with aluminum and phosphorus-bearing solutions. That geological theater is found in the arid, copper-rich ranges of the U.S. Southwest — which is why Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico host so many historic and modern mines.
Notable mines State by State
Arizona
Kingman (near Kingman, AZ) — producing turquoise for ages, this district is known for bright sky-blue Kingman turquoise; it’s one of the most frequently referenced U.S. sources of turquoise in the US.
Sterling silver, Kingman Turquoise and Mediterranean Coral pendant and earring set handmade by Navajo silversmith Tonya June Rafael. Sleeping Beauty (Globe / near Miami area) — famed for very pure, relatively matrix-free sky-blue turquoise; historically large production though mining/production ceased in 2012 making the stones on the market more valuable.
Sterling silver and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise 20 stone cuff handmade by Navajo silversmith Paul Livingston. Bisbee (Cochise County) — closed since the mid 1970s this mine is celebrated for richly colored stones and dramatic dark chocolate to black matrix patterns -- collectors prize “Bisbee Blue” due to it's scarcity.
Nevada
Royston district (Tonopah area / Royston Hills) — produces a variety of colors from deep blues to greenish tones with attractive matrix; Royston district includes the Royal Blue, Oscar Wehrend, Bunker Hill, and Easter Blue (also known as Blue Gem) mines.
Sterling silver and Royston Turquoise Squash Blossom Naja Necklace handmade by Navajo silversmith Ronald Tom.
Lone Mountain, Lander Blue, #8 (Number Eight) and other Nevada localities — Nevada is extremely important for collectible turquoise varieties and includes several “classic” names in collectors’ guides.
Carico Lake
Carico Lake turquoise comes from the historic Carico Lake Mine in Lander County, Nevada, a region renowned for producing some of the most distinctive turquoise in the American Southwest. It is prized for its remarkable range of colors that extend far beyond the classic blue, including vivid robin's egg blue, striking lime green, and rare two-tone combinations created by natural variations in mineral content. Because mining has been limited for many years, fine Carico Lake turquoise has become increasingly scarce, making each handmade piece not only a beautiful work of wearable art but also a reflection of one of America's most unique and sought-after turquoise deposits.
New Mexico
Cerrillos Hills (Tiffany / Castilian areas) — these are ancient turquoise workings (Ancestral Puebloan), and Cerrillos turquoise is archaeologically and historically significant; it’s situated southwest of Santa Fe. Modern commercial mining is limited but the district has deep cultural importance.
Colorado
Turquoise has been historically mined in several areas of Colorado, with the Manassa (or King) and Cripple Creek mines being prominent examples, though most large-scale production has ceased. Manassa turquoise is known for its green and blue-green colors with a golden matrix, while Cripple Creek turquoise features shades from blue to green, often very hard and sometimes with a gold or brown matrix
Short notes on visiting & collecting
Many of these mines are on private land or have limited access; others are worked intermittently. Always check property status and local rules before prospecting. Some mines (or operators) run paid tours or tailings-dig days; others are closed for safety or conservation reasons.
