Red Mountain Turquoise
Posted by Nativo Arts on
The Red Mountain Mine sits in Lander County, Nevada, one of the most productive turquoise-bearing counties in the country. Over the years the mine has produced a substantial quantity of high-grade turquoise, and its finest material is often mentioned in the same breath as the legendary Lander Blue mine located nearby.
What sets Red Mountain turquoise apart is its matrix: a fine, intricate spiderweb pattern that frequently carries a reddish tone rather than the more common black or brown webbing seen in other Nevada turquoise. This reddish spiderweb against a rich blue background gives Red Mountain a warmth and complexity that jewelers and collectors find especially striking, particularly when set in gold.
Because of its fine webbing and comparison to Lander Blue, Red Mountain turquoise has been used in many exceptional pieces by well-known Southwestern jewelry artists over the decades, in both silver and gold settings. It remains one of the more prestigious Nevada turquoise varieties for collectors building out a serious collection.
If you come across a piece with a distinctive red-brown spiderweb matrix over deep blue turquoise, it may well be Red Mountain. Learn more about the gemstones featured across our jewelry in our Gemstone Guide.