Description

Rough Morenci Arizona Natural Turquoise.  The Morenci mine is in Southeastern Arizona and officially dates back to 1864 when open-pit copper mining began.  Turquoise is not currently being produced at the mine, but small amounts from previously mined stock occasionally show up on the market.  The most prized version of Morenci turquoise is deep blue with a heavy iron pyrite matrix and/or some spider-webbing.

Natural turquoise has a Mohs hardness that is high enough to allow it to be shaped and polished without enhancement or stabilization.