Colorado Turquoise Mines

Example Pictures are not
necessarily the highest of grade, rather a good example of a common look
from a particular mine.
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Cripple Creek
(Elkhorn Claim, Florence Mine, O'Haver Claim, Roanoke Shaft,
Hidden Treasure Mine)
The Cripple Creek in Teller County, Colorado is the site of
a number of small gold mines. Cripple Creek turquoise is found
primarily as a by-product of gold mining. One of the groups still
mining the site are the Bad Boys of Cripple Creek. This area yields
some greenish turquoise, and some light to dark blue turquoise
with brown matrix.
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Leadville
(Turquoise Cheif Mine or Josie May)
Colorado does not have many turquoise mines but the few
that it has are good ones. The stones usually have a lot of individual
character, and vibrant colors. We have not seen much of this material
in many years, therefore consider it very rare and hard to come
by.
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Picture Coming Soon!
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Manassa
(King's Mine or Lickskillet Mine)
Manassa turquoise is mined at Manassa in south central Colorado.
It is known for its blue-green to green color with a golden or
brown, non-webbed matrix. The Manassa mine is still in production,
and owned by the King family, thus the alternate name sometimes
used for this turquoise. The Manassa mine used to be call the
Lickskillet Mine in the old days. This stone is one of our favorite,
the beautiful green color is VERY striking, excellent when used
in gold.
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Villa Grove
Villa Grove Turquoise was some of the finest Turquoise
to ever come out of American soil. The Villa Grove Mine in Colorado
is currently covered by a small mountain lake created by runoff
and a natural spring, therefore is not being mine currently.
The Mine was last owned by George Musik and before that by Menless
Winfield. The turquoise is vivid deep blue, the only other turquoise
we have seen with the highly coveted Bisbee Blue coloration
or an absolutely stunning electric blue, the difference is the
matrix is gold rather then brownish red, and usually a fine
spiderweb or dendrites. The high-grade Villa Grove Turquoise
in our opinion is incomparable, definitely the most beautiful
Turquoise we have ever seen including Bisbee, and Lander Blue!
The blue in the high-grade is so blue that a few cabs will turn
a whole wall blue! This stone is very rare these days, especially
the high-grade. Our Favorite!
Villa Grove Turquoise Jewelry
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Other Colorado Mines:
Creede District
Holycross District
Sugarloaf District
Summitville District
Example Pictures are not
necessarily the highest of grade, rather a good example of a common look
from a particular mine.
I will continue to add to this list
and eventually attempt to have a listing of all turquoise mines that have
existed in Colorado. I need your help! If you know of another legitimate
mining operation or old mine claim in Colorado, contact me at: durangodillon@gmail.com
We are always looking for great Turquoise and rare
turquoise examples from all over the world. Please contact us if you know
were to come across any, right now we are looking for Turquoise from California,
Montana, Utah, and Virginia. We collect other rare gemstones.

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