For approximately 800 years the turquoise mines in Nishapur, Khorasan, Iran have produced the majority of the worlds turquoise. The first mining techniques consisted of using stone tools to unearth the rock, since replaced with the most modern mining methods. These ancient Persian mines have produced the gems for crown treasuries all over the world, but especially in the Middle East. Although some of the best turquoise comes from within the United States, very little of it is as good as the best Persian turquoise.

Within the United States, the stone is found in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, California, Alabama, Texas, Virginia and New Jersey. New Mexico has the oldest mines and Nevada has the largest number of mines. The majority of turquoise comes from the states of New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. New Mexico has the Hachita Mine in the southern part of the state, the Azure Mine near Silver City and the Cerrillos Mine located southeast of Santa Fe.The Bisbee Mine is perhaps the most famous in Arizona. The Morenci Mine is also one of the Arizona mines with great notoriety. The Mineral Park Mine in Kingman, Arizona and the Castle Dome Mine near Miami, Arizona round out the top mines in the state. Nevada’s most well known mines include the Royal Blue Mine, Battle Mountain Mine, Crescent Valley Mine, Lone Mountain Mine, Indian Mountain Mine, Careyco Mine and the Lander Blue Mine. One of the most famous mining districts of all time is to be found in the area of the Cripple Creek Mine located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Originally the gold mines in this area were the graetest source of wealth. Turquoise deposits have also been found at LaJara, Villa Grove and near Leadville, Colorado in the Holy Cross Mining District. Deposits of turquoise have also been found in the states of Texas, Kansas and Nebraska but the small amounts and lesser quality have never been considered as significant