Lone Mountain Turquoise
Posted by Nativo Arts on
The Lone Mountain mine is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, and has earned a reputation as one of the truly elite American turquoise sources. Among collectors and dealers, Lone Mountain is frequently ranked in the top tier of the world's most desirable turquoise varieties.
What makes Lone Mountain turquoise so respected is its exceptional color stability. Many turquoise varieties can fade or shift in tone over years of wear and exposure to skin oils and light, but Lone Mountain is known for holding its blue color remarkably well over time. Top-grade material shows a medium to dark blue with a striking jet-black spiderweb matrix, usually found in rounded nodules rather than veins. More common material from the mine today tends toward a lighter grayish or robin's-egg blue.
Because the finest spiderweb Lone Mountain material has become increasingly rare, pieces featuring it are considered significant finds. Occasionally the mine has even produced fossil material replaced by Lone Mountain turquoise, adding another layer of rarity for serious collectors.
If color longevity matters to you in a piece of turquoise jewelry, Lone Mountain is one of the best-performing American varieties available. Browse our Gemstone Guide to learn about more of the turquoise types in our collection.