A Brief History of Turquoise Mining

Ancient Indian Americans living in southwestern part of the USA were the first people on American continent who use to mine Turquoise. Native people of America were using turquoise for making necklace stands and jewelry. They had developed their own style of making jewelry by hand. In ancient America Turquoise had high price and it was circulated widely in local tribes. These local tribes use to identify Turquoise by different names. In prehistoric era Turquoise was the one of the main export item of Mexico. When Spanish conquered Pueblo culture they consider Turquoise worthless. This affected local Turquoise production and mining activities. But it did not stop completely. Pueblo people kept using it for their own use and they exported it to unconquered tribes of New Mexico during Spanish era. Turquoise got name chalchihuitl during 1800 century. When European entered in to American subcontinent they brought technology of working on metals with themselves. Ancient American started using metals like silver with Turquoise in jewelry making. During 1880 rail road were developed in this area and tourism industry began to flourish. Europeans changed their attitude towards Turquoise and began to recognize it as a valuable stone. This uplifted demand for Turquoise jewelry and mining activities gain speed. At this time Turquoise became more costly than that of gold.

Around 1893 prices of Turquoise started going down as many mines started production and this resulted in to over supply of Turquoise. Around 1910 Turquoise market crashed more that 75 percent and many mines were shut down. Turquoise went out of fashion. After 1915 demand for turquoise rise as a result of demand from local tribal people. Turquoise once again came back in to fashion. Americans rediscover Ancient mines on subcontinent. Area of Nevada became hot spot for Turquoise mining activities. Companies like Tyffanys started producing Turquoise with defined standards. Turquoise traditional jewelry become widely popular in America around 1920 as people recognize beauty of ancient Turquoise jewelry made by local tribes of America. This worked in favor of local tribes as Turquoise mining and jewelry became major source of income for these local people. Around 1950 Turquoise stone began to get names according to color and mines where it was found. Lone Mountain, Royston, Blue Gem were the first few names Turquoise stone got.

Around 1960-1970 Turquoise became widely popular in America's fashion world. Prices of Turquoise stone made historical high due to this craze. Increase in price and demand caused reopening of many closed Turquoise mines in US. Around 1980 market turquoise market got overheated. Demand went down due to high prices. Consumers started looking for other types of jewelry. Due to supply demand mismatch soon market of Turquoise collapsed. Most of the Turquoise mines were shut down. After hitting historical low in late 1980 Turquoise began to gain popularity once again slowly. From that time this popularity is increasing with very slow speed. Very few Turquoise mines are in working state. Few miners and jewelry makers survive in 1980 crash. They used profit from boom in developing new techniques of mining and jewelry making. In recent days Turquoise stone demand is increasing but still mining operations are going on little scale. Turquoise entering in market is already produced Turquoise in old days.

Turquoise jewelry and mining activities in US in pre historic era is subject of debate among history scholars. There are many theories and papers available on this topic. One of the widely accepted studies is that of done by Warren and Mathien in 1985 in the Cerrillos District. Warren and Mathien's study was based on pottery collected on various sites in South America. According to their published papers Mount Chalchihuitl area observed mining activities during 1000 -1150 to 1700 century. Mining activity was going on in Mina Del Tiro Group from the 1050 to 1500 century. Warren’s O'Neil area had mining activity from 1050 to 1500-1550 century. Mining activities were going on Franklin Pits area from 1000 to 1150 century and 1350 to 1450 century. Bonito Mines were in use from 1350 to 1700s.Blue Jay Mines were in use from 1200-1700 century. Firefly Mine area observed Turquoise mining from 1000 to 1450 century. Grand Central Mines were in use from 1350-1500.Turquoise Hill is the only site recorded in old Spanish documents as a Turquoise mining site. It was active from 1350 to 1600 century according to historical records.

According to evidence found local tribes in New Mexico use to manufacture Turquoise jewelry in 800 A.D. But ceramic pots having Turquoise stones on them found on some site of New Mexico states that History of Turquoise mining may go back up to 1000 A.D. According to evidence found there are two major periods of Turquoise mining activities separated by dull activity for two centuries. One was from 1000s to 1200 century. Then for two centuries Turquoise mining activities were quit dull. Then it gain speed again in late 1300 century and flourish up to 1598.Turquoise found from 1000-1200 era indicates pueblos had commercial relations with outsider and stones were mostly imported from other communities. Turquoise samples found in second phase that is from 1300 to 1600 are exclusively of Rio Grande Pueblo types which indicate in this era Local Pueblos had little trade relations with other communities. Turquoise mining activities went down sharply after European colonization. It was due to Europeans attitude towards these precious stones. Europeans consider them worthless. But this did not stopped Turquoise production completely. Ceramics pots found from this era indicate Turquoise mining activity was going on after colonization too.

How Turquoise got its name

Traders who use to sell Turquoise to Europeans told them they are buying it from Ottoman Empire [Turkey]. So Europeans started calling it Turkish stones [Turquoise]. Actually these stones were produced in Persians mines. Persians people traded them to Ottoman Empire. History shows many sharp up and downs in Turquoise mining activities and jewelry making. This is due to supple demand phenomenon and Turquoise marketing. Precious stones like Turquoise do have their value only when there is scarcity of supply. Turquoise stones which were of blue color without impurities and tendency to turn green later were always in demand. Stones which use to fade in color after exposure to sun rays, chemicals were considered worthless.

Turquoise markets have seen many crashes. These crashes came when Turquoise became craze in society followed by sharp increase in Turquoise prices and production. Increased supply and higher prices caused sharp market crash.

Contributed by Mike Champion