Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Posted by Four Corners USA OnLine on 3rd Feb 2015

Prized for its consistent color, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise has been the benchmark of southwestern Native American Jewelry artists for years partially due to the mines large production of stone as well as general proximity. When the world thought of Native American Turquoise Jewelry, they were often thinking of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is truly classic and synonymous (in my humble opinion) with authentic southwest Native American Jewelry. Although used by many contemporary silversmiths in new modern designs, nothing evokes years of American Indian Culture as rich color Sleeping Beauty Turquoise set in Traditional silver work that has stood the test of time as in these Bracelets by Wilbert Muskett, Multi Stone Ring (Navajo left), Jerry Cowboy, (Center Rings), Robert and Bernice Leekya (Zuni far right).

The Sleeping Beauty Turquoise mine is located seven miles outside of Globe, Arizona. It is noted for its solid blue color with no matrix found in thick veins throughout the mine. The host rock is usually granite as seen in the larger cabochons and free form nuggets. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is a favorite among the Zuni Pueblo silversmiths for use in petit point, needlepoint and inlay jewelry cutting from the center clear veins. This mine was one of the largest Turquoise producers in North America.

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