Click here to view [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-86.html][b]Best Minerals T[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?tab=65][b]Best Minerals A to Z[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/mesg-63-159134.html][b]Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles[/b].[/url] Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities? After each set of pictures there should be some descriptive text. If none appears it means that we need someone to tell us about the specimens from that locality and something about the geology of the occurrence. If a locality lacks a photograph we need someone to supply us with a photograph of a specimen from that locality. Thanks for your cooperation! [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/min-4060.html]Turquoise[/url][/b] [b]Cu(Al,Fe[sup]3+[/sup])[sub]6[/sub][(OH)[sub]4[/sub]|(PO[sub]4[/sub])[sub]2[/sub]][sub]2[/sub]-4H[sub]2[/sub]O[/b] Triclinic [pic id=217229 width=800 float=centre]Turquoise from Ottre, Vielsalm Massif, Belgium[/pic] Turquoise is a typical mineral for Copper containing oxidation zones in Silica and Aluminium rich rocks. It forms even with low Copper content in cracks, faults and impregnation zones together with clay minerals, Aluminium silicates, and Aluminium hydroxides. Turquoise often appears as mixtures of different members of a series, only after analysis one can conclude if it's pure Turquoise. Turquoise forms three series: Turquoise-Chalcosiderite, Turquoise-Aheylite-Planerite and Turquoise-Faustite. Often there are other minerals present in Turquoise aggregates like Silica, Quartz, Kaolinite, Montmorillonite, Allophan and other Phosphates. More or less Iron rich varieties of Turquoise are "Henwoodite" and "Rasleighite". Europeans came to know Turquoise in the middle ages through the crusades, probably the rocks were brought from the Sinai or Persia. The name most likely derives from Turkey because the stones from the Orient had to travel through Turkey before finally arriving in Europe. Turquoise has been used as a gem and ornamental stone since a very long time. Already in 5500 b.c. the Turquoise from the Sinai peninsula was known and Mexico the stone was already known since 700 b.c. The price for Turquoise varies according to the quality of the material. Factors that decide the price are for instance the size, texture, colour and locality. Some Turquoise from classic U.S. localities are quite expensive. Lander Blue is considered the most valuable of those (it is considered the most valuable Turquoise in the world), selling for prices around $165 per carat whereas most Turquoise sells for carat prices in the range of $1 to $10. Nowadays Turquoise remains a sought after gem and ornamental stone so people have tried to imitate Turquoise, already in 1927 K Hoffmann succeeded in making synthetic Turquoise by mixing powders from Malachite, Aluminium hydroxide and concentrated phosphoric acid and compressing them at 100 degrees Celsius. In 1972 a better Turquoise synthesis was developed by the American Gilson company ("Gilson-Turquoise" ). Also the colour of Turquoise is sometimes enhanced by applying blue ink or blue polymers. "Turquenite", as used in lapidary and mineral trade since the 1970s is as an artificially-coloured blue variety of Howlite or Magnesite dyed to resemble Turquoise and sold as a gemstone, often as tumbled stones. It is not suitable for carving (usually) as the dye does not often penetrate deep into the stone. Confusingly, since 2004 the name has also been used by an American company to denote any mineral that has been subject to a process that the manufacturers call the "Eljen Process" which claims to make soft stones such as Turquoise harder and have more vibrant colours than in their original untreated state. Unlike the original 'Turquenite', this 'Turquenite' is apparently suitable for carving and lapidary use. The American company has applied for a US trademark for the name 'Turquenite', however it remains to be seen whether the prior-use of the name as a dyed howlite/magnesite material will prevent the trademark being granted. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Argentina[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-44.html]Córdoba, Punilla Department, Tanti, Cerro Blanco pegmatite District[/url][/b] [pic id=15031 height=380 float=left]Turquoise, 2x2cm[/pic] [pic id=45093 height=380 float=centre]Turquoise, 3x1,5cm[/pic] Cerro Blanco is a hill with several pegmatite quarries on it, the most well-known being El Criollo, about 10km from the nearest town, Tanti (Punilla Dept.), in Cordoba Province. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Australia[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-158.html]South Australia, Eyre peninsula, Middleback Range, Iron Knob, Iron Monarch open cut[/url][/b] [pic id=88100 height=300 float=left]Turquoise FOV 3cm[/pic] [pic id=102826 height=300 float=centre]Turquoise, 4,4x3cm[/pic] An open pit iron mine (now abandoned), famous for a wealth of well-crystallised phosphates. One of the rare localities where Turquoise can be found as single crystals. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Belgium[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-7959.html]Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm[/url][/b] [pic id=5745 height=300 float=left]Turquoise FOV 6x4cm[/pic] [pic id=3345 height=300 float=centre]Turquoise, 6x3cm[/pic] [pic id=119213 height=400 float=left]Turquoise FOV 0,8cm[/pic] [pic id=241970 height=400 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 0,6cm[/pic] The Stavelot Massif has a long mining history. The object of this mining activity was the so called Coticule, known since ages as an excellent abrasive stone for sharpening knives, razorblades and the likes. Coticule is a metamorphic rock consisting predominantly of very small Spessartine Garnets, it appears as narrow veins in slate. In the Coticule small Quartz veins appear and it is inside these and in small fissures in the Coticule (the so called "cresse" ) that the Turquoise crystallised along with an array of other minerals. The Turquoise appears as coatings on Quartz or Chlorite, globular aggregates and Vielsalm is also one of the few localities worldwide where Turquoise can be found as individual crystals. No mining activity for Coticule remains in the Vielsalm area and most of the mines are inaccessible nowadays and some of the dumps have been recultivated or are now part of a national heritage site. It is however still possible to find the odd specimen of nice Turquoise. In the nearby village of Lierneux a mining engineer from the now closed coal mines of Limburg recently started a renewed mining effort for Coticule in a small Quarry, he now successfully markets his excellent abrasive stone as a luxury product worldwide. [Harjo Neutkens 2009] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Belgium[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-279.html]Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm, Ottré[/url][/b] [pic id=217229 height=330 float=left]Turquoise FOV 0,8cm[/pic] [pic id=83974 height=330 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 0,8cm[/pic] Upper Salmian (Ordovician) Mn-rich metapelites (phyllades) (Hercynian metamorphism) on the south border of Stavelot Massif. Turquoise was First discovered in Belgium near the small township of Ottré, van Wambeke mentions a find of Turquoise from Ottre in 1958 (Bull. Soc. Belge) Nowadays it is still possible to find excellent specimens of Turquoise in the still active Pagani quarry. The quarry works the slate for building material used for walls and roofs in traditional rustic houses. Several small veins of Coticule appear in the quarry in which the Turquoise can be found. Interesting is the find of Torbernite crystals completely covered by Turquoise. The quarry is private property so one should have permission from the owner to enter, however, the owner rarely gives permission to enter the quarry. Apart from the here mentioned localities of Vielsalm and Ottré there are three other localities in the Stavelot Massif where one can find Turquoise. These are Salm-Château, Bihain (the type locality of Vantasselite) and Lierneux. [Harjo Neutkens 2009] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]China[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-144134.html]Hubei Province[/url][/b] [pic id=144111 height=300 float=left]Turquoise, 6,4x2,5cm[/pic] [pic id=114962 height=300 float=centre]Turquoise, 3,8x3,3cm[/pic] Turquoise has been mined in China since thousands of years, especially in Hubei province. There are three main Turquoise mining areas in Hubei. An important mine is Yungaisi mine (Yungaishi means "cloud covered temple" ), it has been worked since 1954 and produced massive Turquoise pieces up to 100 kg! Since 1954 over 450 tons of Turquoise has been excavated in Yungaishi mine. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Democratic Republic of Congo[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-192389.html]Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Katonto hill[/url][/b] [pic id=215808 height=600 float=centre]Spectacular Turquoise crystal specimen from Katonto hill, FOV5,2cm[/pic] Katonto is a hill situated north west of Kolwezi. Some very fine Turquoise crystals, similar to those of Lynch Station in Virginia, where found. It hasn't been a prolific supplier of Turquoise but some remarkable specimens of Turquoise crystals justify Katonto hill featuring in a Turquoise article! The locality is also known for its remarkable pseudomorphs of Limonite after Pyrite crystals and Quartz crystals. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Egypt[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc.php?loc=158383]Sinai Peninsula, Wadi Maghara[/url][/b] Turquoise mining by Dynasty III ruler, Djoser Netjerikhet. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]France[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-188986.html]Auvergne, Allier, Ébreuil, Échassières[/url][/b] [pic id=172709 height=280 float=left]Turquoise FOV 0,1cm[/pic] [pic id=195733 height=280 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 0,3cm[/pic] Small but very beautiful micromounts of Turquoise crystals have come from the dumps of two veins, the Mazet vein and the Ste Barbe vein (the Montmins mine) that have been worked on during the active mining period in Échassières. They are early 20th century tungsten mines, working wolframite-bearing quartz veins hosted by micaceous slates and granite, famous for a wealth of well-crystallised secondary oxysalt minerals (mainly phosphates and arsenates). [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]France[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-1694.html]Limousin, Creuse, Boussac, Montebras-en-Soumans, Montebras Mine[/url][/b] [pic id=89372 height=380 float=left]Turquoise, 6x4cm[/pic] [pic id=209968 height=380 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 0,5cm[/pic] Located 1 km west of Montebras and around 7 km SE of Boussac, the best French locality for Turquoise. Larger specimens of massive Turquoise have been found as well as attractive micromounts with Turquoise crystals. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Iran[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-25357.html]Khorasan (Khorassan; Khorasan va Sistan; Khurasan; Khorass; Khoras) Province, Ali-Mirsa-Kuh Mts, Nishâpûr (Nishabur; Neyshabur), Nishâpûr Deposit[/url][/b] [pic id=142839 height=400 float=left]Turquoise, 4cm[/pic] Arguably the worlds finest specimens of predominantly massive Turquoise have come from this deposit. Mined by the ancient Persians. The most important mine in the region is the Abdurezza mine, a primary deposit excavated underground. Turquoise is encountered as fillings of up to 3 cm wide faults and cracks in the brecciated Trachyte host rock. There are also secondary Turquoise deposits in the area where Turquoise weathered out of the host rock can be found. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Israel[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-14768.html]Eilat[/url][/b] [pic id=10751 height=400 float=left]Turquoise, 7,4x4cm[/pic] Locality of so-called "Eilat stone", chrysocolla intergrown with turquoise and pseudomalachite. However, this occurrence has been completely worked out, and the "Eilat stone" currently sold to tourists in Israel is really from Morocco, Congo and Arizona. Supposedly the locality is the same as the legendary "King Solomon's mines". [Marco Barsanti] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Kazakhstan[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-158384.html]Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast'), Karkaralinsk Rayon, Karkaralinsk (Qarqaraly; Karsakpaj; Qarsaqpaj; Kaskelen)[/url][/b] [pic id=219947 height=300 float=left]Turquoise, 5x2,7cm[/pic] [pic id=219949 height=300 float=centre]Turquoise, 3,7x2,3cm[/pic] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Mexico[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-26357.html]Baja California Norte, Mun. de Ensenada, El Aguajito[/url][/b] [pic id=9802 height=390 float=left]Turquoise, 2x1,4cm[/pic] [pic id=9803 height=390 float=centre]Turquoise, 2x1,5cm[/pic] Locality for very goos cutting grade Turquoise. Further Turquoise prospects in the region are El Rosario, Laguna Chapala and Los Arrastos. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Mexico[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-2350.html]Sonora[/url][/b] [pic id=191709 height=480 float=left]Turquoise ps. after Apatite 4,2x3,1cm[/pic] Very interesting replacement pseudomorphs of Turquoise after Apatite can be found in several localities in Sonora, notably at Cumobabi, La Caridad, Nacozari de García and Cananea. The pseudomophosed crystals can get up to 3 cm large. The name of Cumobabi mine derives from Cu (Copper), Mo (Molybdenum) and babi, meaning "place" in the native language. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Portugal[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-2584.html]Évora District, Vila Viçosa, Pardais, Miguel vacas Mine[/url][/b] [pic id=84923 height=300 float=left]Turquoise FOV 1,2cm[/pic] [pic id=43948 height=300 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 1,5cm[/pic] [pic id=71578 height=280 float=left]Turquoise, Libethenite FOV 1,5cm[/pic] [pic id=130976 height=280 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 3cm[/pic] Excellent specimens of Turquoise, sometimes attractively on Libethenite (famous for the locality) have been found in the brecciated Quartzite of the Miguel Vacas mine. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Republic of South Africa[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-2420.html]Nothern Cape Province, Namaqualand[/url][/b] [pic id=229809 height=540 float=left]Turquoise after mammal bones 10,5x7,5cm[/pic] Weather the bones of such fossils are actually replaced by Turquoise remains questionable. Several studies have been undertaken over the years. I'd like to refer to an excellent article on Mindat by Daniel Russell: [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/article.php/179/On+"Odontolite"+or+"Bone+Turquoise"]"Odontolite" or "Bone Turquoise"[/url][/b] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Spain[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-3141.html]Castile and Leon, Zamora, Palazuelo de las Cuevas[/url][/b] [pic id=129659 height=350 float=left]Turquoise 3,8x3cm[/pic] [pic id=119039 height=350 float=centre]Turquoise 2x1,7cm[/pic] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-1050.html]England, Cornwall, Liskeard District, Caradon & Phoenix Area (South-Eastern Bodmin Moor), Wheal Phoenix (Phoenix United Mine; West Phoenix Mine)[/url][/b] [pic id=11006 height=300 float=left]"Henwoodite" FOV 1cm[/pic] [pic id=242542 height=300 float=centre]"Henwoodite", scale 1 Inch rule 1cm[/pic] Mining first commenced in 1836 under the name of Cornwall United Mine, but was unsuccessful. Reopened about 1844 as Phoenix Mine, West Phoenix Mine was included within the set in 1875, after which the mine was worked as Phoenix United. Most of dumps removed at closure, including engine houses, but Prince of Wales Shaft has complex of buildings associated with it. The mine is famous for very good specimens of the Turquoise variety Henwoodite. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-969.html]England, Cornwall, St Austell District, Luxulyan Area (Luxulian Area), Hensbarrow Downs, Bugle, Bunny Mine (Bonny Mine; St Austell Hills Mine; Shelton Mine)[/url][/b] [pic id=61206 height=370 float=left]Turquoise, 5,5x4,5cm[/pic] [pic id=108715 height=370 float=centre]"Rashleighite" FOV 0,6cm[/pic] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]United Kingdom[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-965.html]England, Cornwall, St Austell District, Luxulyan Area (Luxulian Area), Hensbarrow Downs, Stenalees, Gunheath China Clay Pit[/url][/b] [pic id=155753 height=390 float=left]Turquoise, 12x10cm[/pic] [pic id=11317 height=390 float=centre]Turquoise, 15x10cm[/pic] Famous English locality for good Turquoise specimens. In the so called "Turquoise Lode" a near vertical vein in granite chunks of Turquoise of more then 10 cm large have been found. The Turquoise appears as massive chunks as well as pockets lined with very nice Turquoise crystals. Both Iron rich Turquoise varieties Henwoodite and Rashleighite also appear in the quarry. Much of the green turquoise is assumed to be 'rashleighite' (ferroan turquoise) and may (especially at Phoenix) grade into Chalcosiderite as it gets darker. [Jolyon Ralph] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-3316.html]Arizona, Cochise Co., Dragoon Mts, Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District)[/url][/b] A Pb-Ag-Au-Cu-Zn-Mn-Quartzite-Turquoise mining district located in T.19, 20S., R.24, 25E. This District is located about 18 miles NE of Tombstone and 20 miles north of Bisbee. It occupies an area about 4 miles long from north to south by 2 miles wide in the southeastern margin of the Dragoon Mountains. The principal features of relief are two ridges of NNW-ward trend, fringed on the east by low foothills. The northern, Turquoise Ridge, is separated from the southern, Gleeson Ridge, by a narrow gulch. These ridges are each about 2 miles long by less than a mile wide, and they rise 900 to 1,200 feet above the adjacent plains. The structure at Gleeson and Courtland is highly complex due to faulting and igneous intrusions. Quartz monzonite and quartz-monzonite porphyry intrude the Paleozoic and older rocks but were not found affecting the Cretaceous. Granite and felsite cut the monzonites, and the granite invades the Cretaceous beds. The strata of Turquoise and Gleeson ridges predominantly strike between N. and N30ºE., and dip steeply eastward, but locally they show considerable variations in altitude. Steeply dipping faults of general northerly and easterly trends are common in the district. Movement on them has been both vertical and horizontal, and locally they displace the low-angle faults. Mineralization is of several types: (1) Copper carbonates and oxides in irregular blanket deposits where Cambrian Bolsa Quartzite and Abrigo Limestone are thrusted over Carboniferous limestone; copper sulfides, oxides, and carbonates in irregular replacement deposits in Cambrian Abrigo Limestone; and copper sulfides, oxides and carbonates in irregular, tabular, pyritic lenses in Carboniferous limestone along, or close to, a contact with quartz monzonite intrusive; (2) Lead and zinc carbonates, lead sulphate, and zinc silicate with silver chloride, manganese and minor copper and gold in irregular orebodies in Pennsylvanian-Permian Naco Group limestones along, and at intersections of, fractures and faults; (3) Turquoise in near-surface stringers and lenses in altered granite and quartzite; (4) Manganese oxides in irregular bunches, lenses and masses along fractures in limestone; and (5) Spotty and weak base metal ores with gold and silver values in veins in intrusive rocks. Workings include numerous mines and prospects developed by shafts, tunnels and adits since 1883. At least 887,000 tons of base metal ore and some 250 tons of manganese ore were produced plus some turquoise and a considerable production of quartzite smelter flux. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-18141.html]Arizona, Gila Co., Globe-Miami District, Miami-Inspiration District, Miami, Sleeping Beauty Peak, Copper Cities Mine area, Copper Cities Mine (Sleeping Beauty Mine; Lost Gulch Mine; Yellow Metal Mine; Diamond-H Mine)[/url][/b] [pic id=7022 height=370 float=left]Turquoise, 8x7cm[/pic] [pic id=7067 height=370 float=centre]Turquoise, 3,5x3,5cm[/pic] One of the foremost Turquoise localities in the USA. A former surface and underground Cu-Mo-Ag-Au-gemstone-Zn-U-Pb mine located on the south flank of Sleeping Beauty Peak, 3½ miles north of Miami, straddling the middle part of the common boundary between the Globe and Inspiration quadrangles. Discovered 1896 and produced 1896-1982. Additional names which apply to this property: Porphyry Reserves. Gold mining here started in 1896 by the Girard Mining Co. (Lost Gulch Mining Co. later). The Lost Gulch United Mines Co. was organized in 1909 to operate the properties of the Lost Gulch Mining Co.; reorganized as the Louis d-Or Gold Mining Co. in 1912 that worked the Bonanza, Badger & Cedar Tree claims for Au-Ag-Pb. About 1913 the Baldwin Syndicate of Chicago dispatched Charles E. Hart to examine these gold deposits. He concluded that a porphyry copper deposit was involved. The firm was reorganized as the Louis d'Or Mining and Milling Co. The Gila Monster, Bessie, and Sarah groups of claims covering the porphyry outcrops were optioned from J.W. Bennet. Exploration drilling began in 1917 and exploration continued until 1922 when the Louis d'Or shaft was sunk to the 360 level. The Bradley group of 5 patented claims was acquired in February, 1923. The company became insolvent in 1928 and the noteholders formed a new company jointly with the Pinto Valley Co., which was the Porphyry Reserve Copper Co. The company defaulted on bond interest payments in 1934. Copper Cities Mining Co., a new subsidiary iof the Miami Copper Co., purchased the surviving claims at sheriff's auction. Systematic exploration commenced in 1943 and was completed in 1948, confirming the extent of the orebody. Mineralization is a porphyry copper deposit. Ore concentration was secondary enrichment. Alteration included quartz-sericite, argillic and weak propylitic processes. This deposit is in a body of Lost Gulch quartz monzonite that has been intruded by several smaller bodies of granite porphyry. The outcrop of this quartz monzonite is a northeastward-trending horst block that is bounded on three sides by faults, the Sleeping Beauty fault on the NW side, the Ben Hur fault on the NE side, and the Miami fault on the east side. The south boundary of the mass is a steep intrusive contact with Pinal schist and the various rocks of the lower Precambrian dioritic complex. The structures that are most important in their relation to the orebody are the Coronado and Drummond fault zones, which limit the copper orebody on the west and east sides, respectively. The Coronado fault which strikes north and dips steeply west for a distance of 2,000 feet along the west side of the orebody, is a sheared, brecciated, and silicified zone, 100 to 300 feet wide. At the north and south ends of this broad part, the zone, trends westward and, in a distance of a few hundred feet, appears to contract to such a minor fissure that its outcrop is scarcely recognizable, but mining has exposed a strong gouge zone extending to the Sleeping Beauty fault. Where the fault zone is widest and most prominent, it is the boundary between the two facies of the quartz monzonite, the porphyritic quartz monzonite on the east, or footwall side, and the quartz monzonite porphyry on the west side. Small lenticular bodies of fine-grained diabase have been intruded along the fault zone. The Drummond fault zone is much less prominent than the Coronado, but in other respects they are similar. The outcrop is a narrow zone of silicified breccia generally less than 25 feet wide. It strikes N.45ºW. and dips 60ºNE. It similarly forms the boundary between the two facies of the quartz monzonite along most of its recognizable length. Northeast of the Drummond fault zone, the quartz monzonite is traversed by many faults that strike north to NW and dip 50ºE. to vertical. Most of these faults are older than the diabase, and many of them have thin, discontinuous stringers or small irregular bodies of diabase intruded along them, particularly at the intersection of faults. The mineralized quartz monzonite is intricately dissected by joints, fractures, and minor faults, some older and some younger than the period of mineralization. The older, or premineralization, fractures are now occupied by quartz-pyrite and chalcopyrite veinlets. The Sleeping Beauty turquoise mine is located in Globe, Arizona. It derives its name from the Sleeping Beauty Mountain in the area and at one time was part of the Copper Cities copper operation. The mine produces a uniform light to medium blue turquoise. Because of its uniformity it has been a favorite of the Zuni Pueblo. Silversmiths there often use it in inlay, petit point and needlepoint, and matched jewellery sets. The Sleeping Beauty mine has been one of the larger producers of turquoise in the country, although today less good turquoise is being produced than in the passed. Sleeping Beauty has never been considered a hard turquoise and it has never been talked about in that same sense as many of the classic Nevada mines. But its beautiful clear blue colors mirror the blues of the sky and makes Sleeping Beauty, in every sense of the word, a true "Skystone." [Nevada Gem] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-6827.html]California, San Bernardino Co., Turquoise Mountain District, Turquoise Mountain, Apache Canyon Mines[/url][/b] [pic id=4211 height=370 float=left]Turquoise-Beryl 2x1,1cm[/pic] [pic id=4213 height=370 float=centre]Turquoise-Beryl 2,5x1,5cm[/pic] Locality for very interesting and nice replacement pseudomorphs of Turquoise after Beryl. Although there is a debate about whether the original mineral actually was Beryl, see the remark by Keith Wood below: I am very skeptical of the turquoise ps beryl from California. To my knowledge they have been billed as such but never has any evidence been provided that the pseudomorphs actually use to be beryl. After looking at many specimens I think they are ps of apatite. This is based on the obvious chemical relationship between the minerals but more importantly on the crystallography of the better preserved examples. The most common pyramid face on beryl crystals is the [111-1] face. These are not seen on the specimens from california. Instead the [11-1-1] face is sometimes seen. This is a common face on apatites but less so beryl. (Pardon me if my Miller indices are messed up - it has been a long time.) To explain what I mean about the crystal faces I'll add this. In beryl, there is commonly a face beveling the edge of the pinacoid between two hexagonal prism faces. That is, at the intersection of two prism faces and the pinacoid. These are not observed on the turquoise pseudos. In their simplest manifestations, when not complicated by adjacent pyramid faces, these faces form triangles. On apatite, the most common pyramid face occurs at the intersection of one prism face and the pinacoid. these are the faces that I have seen on the psuedos. In their simplest manifestations, when not complicated by adjacent pyramid faces, these faces form trapezoids.While it is true a similar face sometimes occurs in beryl, it almost never occurs without the more common kind I described above. Thus both the chemical relationship and crystallographic evidence point toward apatite as the original crystalline phase. [Keith Wood] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-206652.html]Nevada, Clarck Co., Potosi Mountain area[/url][/b] [pic id=236779 height=600 float=centre]Turquoise after fossil 5,7x5,3cm[/pic] Weather the bones of such fossils are actually replaced by Turquoise remains questionable. Several studies have been undertaken over the years. I'd like to refer to an excellent article on Mindat by Daniel Russell: [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/article.php/179/On+"Odontolite"+or+"Bone+Turquoise"]"Odontolite" or "Bone Turquoise"[/url][/b] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-6744.html]Nevada, Humboldt Co., Iron Point District, Valmy, Silver Coin Mine[/url][/b] [pic id=44252 height=330 float=left]Turquoise FOV 0,3cm[/pic] [pic id=160126 height=330 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 0,3cm[/pic] Excellent locality for Turquoise crystals. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-23771.html]Nevada, Lander Co.[/url][/b] [pic id=7329 height=380 float=left]Turquoise, 3,5cm[/pic] [pic id=7581 height=380 float=centre]Turquoise, 3cm[/pic] Several mines in the area, notably the Fox mine and the White horse mine, produce nice Turquoise specimens. The famous "Lander Blue" is considered the most valuable Turquoise in the world. The Fox mine, once known as the Cortez, has been one of the largest producing mines in Nevada for almost a century. An official notice of location on the property under the name of "Fox Lode Mining Claim" was filed in 1914 by Charles Schmidtlein and Johnnie Francis. It had been mined in prehistoric times and had been known for years to the Indians of the area before the filed claim. The Fox mine is located in Lander County near Crescent Valley, Nevada. After going through numerous owners the mine was purchased in the 1940’s by Dowell Ward who continued the Fox’s development into Nevada’s most productive mine. The Fox mine is said to have produced more turquoise than all other mines in Nevada put together. With at least 500,000 pounds mined by 1968 and for years producing more than 2,000 pounds per month. The mining operation continued to produce turquoise in quantity after 1968 and is still producing today. Fox turquoise is quite hard and runs from shades of green to an aqua blue color. It is found as both nuggets and vein material. [Nevada Gem] On the south range of Bald Mountain in Lander County, Nevada is the Indian Mountain turquoise mine. A Shoshone sheepherder was said to have found the mine in 1970. The Indian Mountain was owned and operated by Ed Mauzy and J.W. Edgar, both legends in Nevada turquoise mining. Mining at Indian Mountain was carried on from late May to early October with a recovery of "about three pounds" (Turquoise Annual) of good turquoise a day. During winter the mine could be covered in up to 10 feet of snow. Indian Mountain turquoise was difficult to mine, found in very compact rock. During mining season the miners lived in trailers 75 miles from electricity and the closest telephone. The vein material and small nuggets found were of a very high grade turquoise. Seen in both a green and fine blue color, sometimes combined. The spider web Indian Mountain is considered to be some of the finer turquoise available. [Nevada Gem] The Lander Blue turquoise mine in Lander County, Nevada is located between Battle Mountain and Tenabo. Found in 1973 it produced some of the most beautiful spider-webbed turquoise ever discovered. Today it is considered the most valuable turquoise known. Not surprisingly as early as 1975 it had been stated that Lander Blue “has become some of the most valued turquoise today.” Like a number of the other high-grade strikes, Lander Blue was a very rich pocket discovery, and has been referred to as a “hat mine,” a term used to described small floats of turquoise because they could be “covered with a hat.” There were no extensive zones or long veins. These pockets are not uncommon in nature and once mined out they are gone forever. Lander Blue is almost entirely spider-webbed turquoise with colours from medium to deep blue and a black contrasting matrix. Although some other grades were found only approximately 100 pounds of the beautiful spider-web turquoise was mined. Rita Hapgood, a one time blackjack dealer in Battle Mountain, while walking with her two sisters found little nuggets on the ground along Indian Creek in the Crescent Valley area of Nevada. After discovering this deposit of high-grade turquoise she went on to claim the site as the Mary Louise Lode Mining Claim, the name Mary Louise belonging to her mother. The mine bordered the Lander Ranch. Later the claim was sold to Marvin Syme and Henry 'Hank' Dorian for the sum of $10,000.00. They brought in Bob Johnson, who provided equipment and began working the claim. The three then named the company the Lander Blue Turquoise Corporation. Marvin Syme ended up owning a number of turquoise mines in Nevada and later retired to Idaho. Hank Dorian operated the Nevada Club in Battle Mountain for a number of years until his passing and Bob and Dixie Johnson continued to sell Lander Blue turquoise until it ran out.The Lander Blue mine later became part of Lander Blue CabDowell Ward’s large string of mines (now belonging to Mrs. Ward). Today, because of its rarity and value, there seems to be more Lander Blue for sale than was ever mined. With very little provenance available when buying beautiful Lander Blue, this material has truly become a case of ”Buyer Beware.” [Nevada Gem] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-60792.html]Nevada, Esmeralda Co.[/url][/b] The Lone Mountain turquoise mine is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, not far from Tonopah. It has been one of the great producers of Nevada turquoise. The colour ranges from a beautiful clear blue to a dark blue spider web. Lone Mountain has always been noted for holding its colour. To this day jewellery can be found that was made in the 1930’s or 1940’s with Lone Mountain turquoise just as blue as when it was made. he mine was claimed by Lee Hand in 1920 first as the Blue Jay Mining Lode and later, after seeing that so many mines had been named Blue Jay, Hand changed the mine’s name to Lone Mountain. In 1927 at a depth of about 40 feet Bert Kopenhaver, who had leased the mine from Hand, found the beautiful spider web turquoise material that made Lone Mountain one of the top mines in the South west. Today, Lone Mountain’s beautiful blue spider web still gives Lander Blue, the most valuable turquoise in the world, a run for its money. The mine has continued to change hands over the years and even now a small amount of good material is being produced. Another rare occurrence has been the "fossil turquoise" found in this mine. Plant fossils and sometimes seashells that have dissolved away leaving only the cavities were filled with turquoise deposits. Turquoise nuggets in moss agate have also been found. The Royal Blue mine constituted the main workings in the area. The blue colors from this mine were beautiful and equal to any and the matrix was especially fine. In 1968 high-grade cut stones retailed at $1.00 a carat, which in today market would be the equivalent to over $20.00 a carat. The mine was discovered in 1902 by two miners named Workman and Davis, they later sold the mine for $3000. Over the years as with other mines the Royal Blue changed hands numerous times. The Bunker Hill mine was discovered in 1927 by Roy Palfreyman and Bert Kopenhaver. The Oscar Wehrend mine was discovered in 1909, production from this mine was low and not of the quality of the other two. Today the Royston district is still producing turquoise of high quality, but in limited amounts. [Nevada Gem] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-60625.html]Nevada, Eureka Co., Lynn District, Number Eight mine (Blue Star mine)[/url][/b] The Number 8 turquoise mine is in the Lynn mining district in Eureka County, Nevada. The mine is considered depleted and has not produced turquoise for a number of years, although much is still available through collections and other holdings. Earl Buffington and Lawrence Springer filed the first formal claim on the property in 1929. Not long after that time the mine began going though a number of owners which included; Ted Johnson, Doc Wilson, Myron Clark, Lee Hand, the Edgar brother and Dowell Ward. All are important names in Nevada’s turquoise mining history. In 1950 the Edgars with a bulldozer began looking for copper. What they did uncover was a deposit of some of the finest spider web turquoise ever found in Nevada. The pocket produced more than 1,600 pounds of the very highest-grade turquoise, a discovery that is still being talked about today. The colour of Number 8 varies from light blue, blue with shades of green to beautiful dark blue. It is found with a black, golden, red or brown matrix. With the black and red spider webbing being the most valued. Besides its beautiful turquoise, Number 8 has also been known for the large nuggets the mine produced. One nodule of high-grade turquoise that was sold to C.G. Wallace weighed more than nine pounds. Another uncovered was one of the largest turquoise nodules ever found. On June 23, 1954, T.G. Edgar, J.M. Edgar and Marvin Symes discovered a specimen that weighed 150 pounds. It was of good colour and hardness and classified as gem quality. Today Number 8 turquoise is one of the most valuable stones that can be collected and one of the most beautiful that can be used in jewellery. High-grade Number 8 turquoise is by far some of the finest turquoise to ever have come out of Nevada. [Nevada Gem] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-28608.html]New Mexico, Santa Fe Co., Cerrillos District, Los Cerrillos Mts., Tiffany Mines[/url][/b] The Cerrillos mining district has been called the earliest and the most important turquoise mining area in the country, already prehistoric mining existed around 800AD. It is located in Santa Fe County in north central New Mexico between the towns of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Turquoise there has been found in most every colour, it is hard and can be of very good quality. Today Cerrillos turquoise is considered rare and little is seen. It can still be found in jewellery where small claim owners and rock hounds have supplied the turquoise. Pueblo miners had worked the area for centuries before the Spanish arrived. Over two hundred dig sites have been located. The main mining areas are located about three miles apart. One area is situated on Turquoise Hill and includes the Tiffany and Castilian mines. Both the Tiffany and the Castilian were famous for their beautiful blue turquoise. Which was said to have been "as beautiful and of as good quality as Persian turquoise." The second area, located in the Cerrillos Hills, is Mount Chalchihuitl. It was the most extensive mining area and the largest prehistoric turquoise operation known on the American continent. For the complete history on the Cerrillos's mines see, Bennett's "Turquoise and the Indian" and Pogue's "Turquoise." [Nevada Gem] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-8521.html]New Mexico, Grant Co., Burro Mountains District, Tyrone Area, Azure Mine[/url][/b] Hachita turquoise is from a group of mines near Old Hachita, Grant County, New Mexico. They include the Azure, Cameo, Galilee, and Aztec claims. The name "Hachita" comes from the Spanish term for "Little Hatchet". The small town itself was located in the foothills of the Little Hatchet Mountains in the Hachita Valley of New Mexico. The turquoise deposits lie in a location known as Turquoise Mountain about 6 mile west of the town. Mined intensely in prehistoric times, settlers first came to the area when stories told by Indians mentioned turquoise deposits found in the hills of the Little Hatchet Mountains. Prospectors began working deposits around 1880’s and not only found the turquoise, but silver, copper, and gold as well. Many of the turquoise tunnels found were so ancient and carefully refilled by the Indians that they were only found by later mining. Some were said to have become so hard that the material had to be blasted loose. These were hard mines to work with the nearest settlement of any size a few hundred miles away and the harsh furnace like conditions of the desert. Much of the first turquoise found was a hard fine pure-blue color. Today the Hachita turquoise seen in the market place is predominantly green with a light to dark brown matrix. Sometimes forming a beautiful spider webbing. [Nevada Gem] [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]USA[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-7981.html]Virginia, Campbell Co., James River-Roanoke River Manganese District, Lynch Station, Bishop Mine[/url][/b] [pic id=9809 height=350 float=left]Turquoise, 2,8x2,4cm[/pic] [pic id=47570 height=350 float=centre]Turquoise, 3,1x3,1cm[/pic] [pic id=42121 height=230 float=left]Turquoise, 4,7x2,3cm[/pic] [pic id=3396 height=230 float=centre]Turquoise, 4,5x3cm[/pic] [pic id=15283 height=380 float=left]Turquoise FOV 0,1cm[/pic] [pic id=15287 height=380 float=centre]Turquoise FOV 0,2cm[/pic] Arguably the most impostant locality for Turquoise crystals in the world, already described by the mineralogist W.T. Shaller in 1912. Specimens of occasionally notable size can be covered with up to 0,2 cm large Turquoise crystals. [b]Turquoise[/b] [b]Uzbekistan[/b] [b][url=http://www.mindat.org/loc-19370.html]Kyzylkum Desert, Central Kyzylkum Region, Auminzatau Mts[/url][/b] [pic id=175545 height=300 float=left]Turquoise, 7x4cm[/pic] [pic id=175548 height=300 float=centre]Turquoise, 5x3,5cm[/pic] [b]Literature on Turquoise[/b] - Extra Lapis No. 16: Türkis, Der Edelstein mit der Farbe des Himmels, Stefan Weiss et al 1999, ISBN 3-921656-48-6 -The allure of Turquoise, Mark Nohl et al -Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide, Joe Dan Lowry and Joe P. Lowry - Les gisements minéraux du Salmien dans le Massif de Stavelot, Michel Blondieau 2005 - Description des espèces minérales présentes dans les gisements salmiens du Massif de Stavelot, Michel Blondieu 2008 [b]Internet resources on Turquoise[/b] - [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turquoise]Wikipedia[/url] - [url=http://www.turquoiseguide.com/index.htm]The Turquoise Guide[/url] - [url=http://www.strahlen.org/vp/pt/vacas/vacas.htm]Miguel Vacas mine, Strahlen.org[/url] - [url=http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/sites/phoenix.htm]Wheal Phoenix[/url] - [url=http://www.sbturquoise.com/]Sleeping Beauty mine[/url] - [url=http://www.turquoisemuseum.com/index.html]Tuquoise Museum[/url] - [url=http://www.nevadagem.com/index.html]Nevada Gem[/url] - [url=http://www.mindat.org/article.php/179/On+"Odontolite"+or+"Bone+Turquoise"]"Odontolite" or "Bone Turquoise" by Daniel Russell, Mindat[/url] [b]Work in Progress.......[/b] [Harjo Neutkens 2009] Click here to view [url=http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-86.html][b]Best Minerals T[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?tab=65][b]Best Minerals A to Z[/b][/url] and here for [url=http://www.mindat.org/mesg-63-159134.html][b]Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles[/b].[/url] http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145805#msg-145805 Sat, 25 May 2013 17:19:53 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260328#msg-260328 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260328#msg-260328 Rick Dalrymple Best Minerals T Wed, 09 May 2012 19:15:31 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260292#msg-260292 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260292#msg-260292 Apatite is indeed much more likely. I copied your remarks in the article, and leave it to the reader until further study has proved anything conclusive.
Thanks!!]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Wed, 09 May 2012 05:50:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260290#msg-260290 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260290#msg-260290 The mine owner says that "Chesterman at the Ca. Div. of Mines and Geology confirmed turquoise pseudomorphs after beryl based on morphology, trace beryl remnants and in situ beryl nearby." I guess he is sincere, although a lawyer would call this hearsay evidence. And, as you've pointed out, the morphology doesn't really prove beryl; at most one could say that it might represent beryl. The presence of "in situ beryl nearby" doesn't really prove anything either, as it would not be unexpected in a pegmatite environment; and quite to the contrary it brings up the question of why only some of the beryl altered and not other "nearby" beryls? So we are left with the alleged "trace beryl remnants", which probably ought to be subjected to a more modern textural study to see whether (if their presence can be confirmed) they truly represent the precursor mineral and not incidental inclusions in apatite or its matrix.]]> Alfredo Petrov Best Minerals T Wed, 09 May 2012 03:58:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260289#msg-260289 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260289#msg-260289 long time.)

OK, to explain what I mean about the crystal faces I'll add this. In beryl, there is commonly a face beveling the edge of the pinacoid between two hexagonal prism faces. That is, at the intersection of two prism faces and the pinacoid. These are not observed on the turquoise pseudos. In their simplest manifestations, when not complicated by adjacent pyramid faces, these faces form triangles.

On apatite, the most common pyramid face occurs at the intersection of one prism face and the pinacoid. these are the faces that I have seen on the psuedos. In their simplest manifestations, when not complicated by adjacent pyramid faces, these faces form trapezoids.While it is true a similar face sometimes occurs in beryl, it almost never occurs without the more common kind I described above.

Thus both the chemical relationship and crystallographic evidence point toward apatite as the original crystalline phase. This should probably be mentioned in the article. I hope this helps.

Nice article.]]> Keith Wood Best Minerals T Wed, 09 May 2012 03:39:51 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260262#msg-260262 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,260262#msg-260262
I am a very green rookie (48 hours) of minerals and mines. Having come accross two chunks of maybe Turquoise, I am having the sudden, "Am I Rich!!!" question running through my veins. I am settling down but wow what a sudden rush!

I appreciated this whole website. I have also included a photo. It is hard to capture the blue shades within the rock(s) to share this with others. I am not sure what to do now. The two pieces I found were just sitting there ontop of the ground where we have walked for 15+ years. I started digging down a bit because the ground did colapse under the weight of one of our vehicles about 6 months ago but I feel kind of rediculous. It is just flat desert land. I have no clue whether these pieces were brought here or somehow have filtered their way to the top. hmmm? What does one do? Is it worth much sweat and trouble? If so where do I go from here?

My husband is just chuckling at me being so childlike and full of belief and posibility. Regardless this is fun. In the past I followed a falling star and picked up fragments. These now sit in a coffee tin. Also I have found myself out hunting for any odd objects and have found a few. An interesting little rocket with numbers stamped on it. All bent up and broken apart but regardless I think it is awesome.

I just want to add a little something to the website and hope if anybody has any additional thoughts to send my way I would value that.

I have noticed over the past couple years the price of metal detectors have sky rocketed. If anyone has a suggestion on where a reasonable deal is for me to get a quality one for a poor girls price please share. (maybe there is no such thing)

Thanks again.

Gina
Pinal County Arizona 85193]]> gooshimin Best Minerals T Tue, 08 May 2012 20:45:05 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251234#msg-251234 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251234#msg-251234
I have some King Solomon turquoise. I will see if I can find it and get it photographed.

The Bingham Copper Mine also produced turquoise for a short time in the 1970's. It is always overlooked by turquoise people but I think it is as beautiful of a turquoise as many others. I added images of it on Mindat already.]]> Rick Dalrymple Best Minerals T Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:54:28 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251223#msg-251223 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251223#msg-251223 If you ave any (and if the specimens are good enough to be mentioned in the article) could you upload them to the database, so I can add the locality to the article.
Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Harjo]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:09:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251218#msg-251218 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251218#msg-251218 David Von Bargen Best Minerals T Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:58:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251211#msg-251211 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,251211#msg-251211 Thump Best Minerals T Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:09:29 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,150144#msg-150144 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,150144#msg-150144 Rock Currier Best Minerals T Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:09:35 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,150092#msg-150092 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,150092#msg-150092 [www.mindat.org]]]> Uwe Kolitsch Best Minerals T Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:37:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,149943#msg-149943 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,149943#msg-149943 Patricia Best Minerals T Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:07:15 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146413#msg-146413 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146413#msg-146413 David Von Bargen Best Minerals T Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:19:50 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146387#msg-146387 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146387#msg-146387 Rock Currier Best Minerals T Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:25:42 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146310#msg-146310 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146310#msg-146310 David Von Bargen Best Minerals T Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:13:17 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146295#msg-146295 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146295#msg-146295 You're Turquoise is a tough one in that respect, but also a nice one as it appeals to gem people as well as to the micromounters.]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:50:59 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146292#msg-146292 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146292#msg-146292 Turquoise is a real tough one. Most of the localities produce cutting rough and not much in the way of what advanced mineral collectors would call specimens. I hope that a real raving lunatic of a turquoise lapidary guy will get disguised with the fine little specimen oriented article you are doing and weigh in with a lot of good pictures of rough and cut from different localities and help flesh out the article so that it will be more meaningfully and appealing to the general public who will hopefully come to Mindat to look for information on turquoise and at the same time give us the chance to rub their noses in mineralogy and geology.

I am typing this while looking down below the entry screen at an advertisement for "True Blue" Jewelry Gifts with some pictures of turquoise jewelry. Is that at the bottom of your Turquoise article as well? Has Jolyon already sold advertising space at the bottom of the article? If we can make similar gemstone related articles juicy enough perhaps he can sell more space. The more advertising revenue he can generate and we can help him generate the more secure the future of Mindat.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals T Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:44:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146196#msg-146196 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146196#msg-146196 The assistance plea is fine the way you suggest, then we can indeed leave the descriptions cleaner.
The Henwoodite is brilliant!]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:36:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146189#msg-146189 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146189#msg-146189 The line spacing after each locality looks like one line on my monitor after each locality before the next locality. I thought we had agreed on two?

I went through my slides and could only find one turquoise worth a damn. It is not a very good picture, but it is of what is probably one of the best British Turquoise v. henwoodite specimens that was produced. [www.mindat.org]

Instead of begging for contributions after each locality for which we don't have information, why don't we add a line to the lead in plea for assistance explaining that if no text appears after the picture it is because we need help with it? Something like:

Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities? After each set of pictures there should be some descriptive text. If none appears it means that we need someone to tell us about the specimens from that locality and something about the geology of the occurrence.

I think this might appeal to a cleaner looking article and reduce the repetitive requests for help which most people blow past anyway.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals T Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:17:27 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146083#msg-146083 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146083#msg-146083 Gord]]> Gord Howe Best Minerals T Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:15:45 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146070#msg-146070 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146070#msg-146070 yes and yes. I've got the photographs of both mine and turquoise, happy to share. And this is the one Jolyon mentioned below my comment.
Cheers,
Maria]]> Maria Alferova Best Minerals T Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:45:44 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146059#msg-146059 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146059#msg-146059 David and Rock, I added the U.S. localities mentioned by David to the article, let's see is someone comes up with some pics.]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:53:44 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146057#msg-146057 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146057#msg-146057
[www.mindat.org]]]> Marco Barsanti Best Minerals T Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:25:41 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146016#msg-146016 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,146016#msg-146016 Rock Currier Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:23:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145997#msg-145997 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145997#msg-145997 I've got Lander county...problem with most of the USA locs mentioned by David is that there are no pics on Mindat.....I've added a "plea" at the end of the article (below "work in progress....") to hopefully entice people to contribute pics and info.....we'll see...

Cheers

Harjo]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:31:17 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145931#msg-145931 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145931#msg-145931 [www.mindat.org]

Tiffany mine, Los Cerrillos District, Santa Fe Co. New Mexico, USA
$2,000,000 worth of production - early 20th century
District had prehistoric mining from ~800AD.

Azure Mine, Burro Mountains, Grant Co., New Mexico
$2-4,000,00 worth of production
Oxidation zone above porphry copper deposit (Tyrone)

13th century Persian noted color could be altered by application of butter or mutton fat.

Royal Blue turquoise mine, Esmeralda Co. NV
$5,000,000 production. Seams to 13cm thick, breccia fillings, nodules.

Number Eight Turquoise Mine, Eureka Co. Nev
5 metric tons, $1,400,000

Carico Lake Turquoise mine, Lander Co, NV
350,000 kg of production.]]> David Von Bargen Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:04:15 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145924#msg-145924 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145924#msg-145924
[www.mindat.org]]]> Jolyon & Katya Ralph Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:38:13 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145923#msg-145923 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145923#msg-145923 Do you have any more information and photographs of specimens from the locality?

Salut

Harjo]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:38:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145919#msg-145919 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145919#msg-145919 Maria Alferova Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:18:32 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145892#msg-145892 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,86,145805,145892#msg-145892 Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals T Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:47:49 +0000