Single Stone Candelaria Turquoise Ring (#012)
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Hand Stamped Sterling Silver Ring
set with Natural Candelaria Turquoise
Size - 10 1/4
Stone - 3/4" tall x 5/8" wide
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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.
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.
About the artist:
See all items by Unknown ArtistRelated categories:
Navajo Turquoise Rings See all items in this categoryCandelaria Turquoise Jewelry See all items in this category
Related legends:
Silversmithing
When and how
the Navaho acquired the art of working metals is unknown but there are reasons
for supposing that it was introduced among them, or at least more developed and
improved upon by them, since the time they have occupied their present country? More about this legend
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