| Turquoise rough | | | | $100 per person you will get a bucket to fill up by |
| Turquoise is possibly the most valuable, | | | | picking through the tailing piles. You will need to bring |
| non-transparent mineral used in jewelry. It has been | | | | gloves, hat, sunscreen, water, and a good pair of |
| mined since at least 6000 BC by Egyptians. Like | | | | shoes. |
| other opaque such as coral, turquoise is commonly | | | | The mines in Royston have been in operation since |
| sold by the size in millimeters rather than by weight. | | | | 1902 and by 1915 over $5,000,000 worth of turquoise |
| Turquoise is usually found sandstone layers and can | | | | has been removed from the mines. It was believed |
| be seen as splotches or as a network of brown or | | | | to have been the largest single producing turquoise |
| black veins running through the sandstone. There are | | | | mine in America at that time. |
| many small-scale mining operations that are worked | | | | The Otteson’s Mine also offers mine tours, |
| by hand. Only one mine in Apache Canyon California | | | | Wednesday through Friday excluding holidays. For $50 |
| operates at a commercial capacity today. | | | | per person you will get a bucket to fill up by picking |
| With a hardness of just under 6, about the hardness | | | | through the tailing piles. |
| of window glass, this gemstone takes a good polish. | | | | Turquoise is found throughout the Southwest United |
| It comes in white, blue, green, brown, yellow and all of | | | | States. Always contact the states Bureau of Land |
| the shades in between. The value of the turquoise | | | | Management for any fees or permit requirements |
| you will find is determined by the richness of color. | | | | before treasure hunting on public land. Also get |
| Robin’s egg is usually the most valuable. The | | | | permission from any land owners before hunting on |
| more of a green hug or lightening of color will | | | | private property. |
| decrease the value. Turquoise should never be soft | | | | In Arizona turquoise has been found near Albuquerque, |
| or chalky in color. | | | | Bisbee, Cave Creek, Globe, Kingman, Turquoise and |
| Turquoise polished | | | | Birdeyes mountains. |
| Turquoise is typically found in the arid regions of the | | | | In California turquoise has been found in San |
| world and some high quality gemstones have been | | | | Bernardo, Imperial, and Inyo counties. |
| found in the Southwest United States such as Arizona, | | | | In Colorado, search Conejos, Lake, El Paso and |
| California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. | | | | Saguache Counties. |
| More that 120 mines have produced significant | | | | |
| quantities of gem quality turquoise in Nevada. | | | | In Nevada, search Clark, Elko, Esmeralda County, |
| Nevada mines are primarily worked for the gemstone | | | | Eureka, Lander, Mineral County and Nye counties. |
| as apposed to other mining areas where turquoise is | | | | New Mexico, Eddy, Grant, Otero, and Santa Fe |
| usually the result of the by product of other mining | | | | counties. |
| activities. The geological formation of Nevada | | | | Tools you will need to hunt for turquoise; Pick Axe, |
| turquoise, it is hard and dense and usually does not | | | | rock hammer, gloves, safety glasses, bucket. |
| require any treatment or enhancements to be used in | | | | Remember you are searching arid regions of the |
| jewelry. | | | | world so proper clothing is a must. Wear clothing in |
| The Royston mining district located near Tonapah, | | | | layers because weather can change very rapidly in |
| Nevada conducts tours of the mining facility | | | | these areas. Water, hat and a good sunscreen is a |
| Wednesday through Saturday excluding holidays. For | | | | must. |