Navajo Kingman Turquoise Buckle - Geraldine Yazzie (#013)

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Kingman Turquoise comes from a large open-pit copper mine in the Mineral Park Mining District, northwest of Kingman, Arizona and was one of the largest turquoise mines in this country. The area lies in high desert country at an elevation of 3,345 feet and is surrounded by three mountain ranges. The mining district around Kingman, Arizona has always been a large producer of turquoise, at one time the world's largest. First mined by Indians, this area was home to the most extensive prehistoric workings found in Arizona.

The modern production of turquoise dates back to the early 1880©ˆs when James Haas rediscovered these ancient Kingman area mines. Much of the turquoise occurred as seams, masses and veins. The color of natural Kingman turquoise can range from light blue to very dark blue and sometimes tints of green. The matrix is from white, light brown to black and frequently flecked with pyrite and sometimes quartz. The mine became famous for its rounded, bright blue nuggets with black matrix. Few turquoise mines produced nuggets, especially of this quality. In its high-grade form it has always been considered among the top quality American turquoise. With so many thousands of pounds of good quality turquoise produced in the Kingman area over the last one hundred years it is hard to believe that today very little high-grade Kingman turquoise is available.

Other names for Kingman turquoise: Ithaca Peak , The Wall, Tiffany, Courtland, Az., Gleeson

Most desirable: Deep Blue with molybdenum pyrite; Real blue with pyrite; Bird's eye; Water Web; Nuggets

About the artist:

Geraldine Yazzie started creating beautiful silver jewelry in the early 1990’s.  Learning from her mother, she supports her own family with her well crafted belts and other forms.  She resides on the Navajo reservation in the area of Smith Lake, New Mexico. 

See full biography | See all items by Geraldine Yazzie

Related categories:

Navajo Stamp with Stones Buckles 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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