Candelaria Turquoise Jewelry
The Columbus/Candelaria turquoise mining district is centered around
the ghost town of Candelaria, Nevada. Located in the west-central part
of the state, Esmerelda County, the district is just 45 miles northeast
of Tonopah, on US Highway 95. To be even more specific, the claims are
generally located in a heavily worked open pit copper, silver and gold
mine bordering the town. Map coordinates are: 38 degrees 09'26.00"N 118
degrees 05'13.00W, at 5,800 feet elevation. (Continued below)
Navajo 5 Stone Candelaria Variscite Bracelet - Toby Henderson #068
Navajo Jewelry
Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Bracelet set with 5 Candelaria Variscite Stones Size - 7 Inner Circumference - 5 5/8" Opening - 1 3/8" $690.00
|
Single Stone Candelaria Turquoise Ring (#012)
Navajo Jewelry
Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Ring set with Natural Candelaria Turquoise Size - 10 1/4 Stone - 3/4" tall x 5/8" wide $240.00
|
Navajo Candelaria Turquoise Necklace & Earrings Set - Nelson Family
Navajo Jewelry
Sterling Silver Channel Butterfly Necklace and Earrings Set with Natural Candelaria Turquoise Created by Father and Son duo, Gerry & Gilbert Nelson Necklace - 17 1/4" long Pendant - 1 1/4" tall x 2" wide Earrings - 1" tall x 7/8" wide $675.00
|
Candelaria Turquoise Navajo Silver Bracelet - Guy Haskie (#07)
Navajo Silver and Turquoise Jewelry
Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Bracelet Set with Natural Candaleria Turquoise Size - 6 1/2 Opening - 7/8" Inner Circumference - 5 5/8" Stone - 7/8" tall x 1 3/8" wide $850.00
|
Southwestern Candelaria Turquoise Necklace - Bruce Eckhardt (#09)
Southwestern Turquoise Jewelry
Natural Gem Quality Candelaria Turquoise Necklace with 14K Gold Clasps Necklace - 17 5/8" long $3,250.00
|
The
Candelaria mine dates to the mid-1800s, when the Spanish first mined it
for turquoise and variscite. Mining operations were recognizably
established around Candelaria in1863, and were worked heavily in the
1870's. The town of Candelaria was founded in 1865, and in the 1980's
and 90's the mine was largely expanded in search of precious metals.
Today
the mining company that owns the property infrequently leases claims to
a few diligent miners. Many areas in the pit are dangerously
inaccessible due to erosion and weathering, making Candelaria turquoise
all the more rare. Small outlying claims are also mined on a sporadic
basis. Candelaria turquoise is usually found in veins, seams and rarely
as clam pseudomorphs.
The Candelaria turquoise that can be
found on today's market is generally of good commercial quality to gem
grade. Colors range from medium to high, "electric", blue saturation.
Candelaria turquoise can be pure, almost translucent, blue in color,
similar to classic Blue Gem turquoise. The matrix patterns found in
Candelaria turquoise are extremely varied, showing everything from birds-eye patterns, to knots with intermittent black to brown matrix.
Spider web matrix is highly unusual in Candelaria turquoise, but has
been known to exist. Material from this area is typically very hard.
The
Candelaria region is probably best known for producing a beautifully
attractive variscite, which comes in a wide spectrum of colors; again
rarely found with spiderweb matrix. Candelaria variscite is generally
very hard, with a high silica content.
Artists who create Candelaria Turquoise Jewelry:
Bruce Eckhardt |
Guy Haskie |
Toby Henderson |
Gerry J. Nelson |
Unknown Artist |
Twin Rocks Trading Post · P.O. Box 330 · 913 E. Navajo Twins Dr · Bluff,
UT 84512
Phone:
435-672-2341 · Toll-free
1-800-526-3448
Contact Twin Rocks Trading Post
Copyright © 2008 Twin Rocks Trading Post
Twin Rocks Home