$30.00
A 1-inch Kingman turquoise nugget from Arizona’s 1970 mining era, showcasing vibrant sky-blue tones with natural brown webbing. Authentic vintage American turquoise.
In stock
This 1-inch Kingman turquoise nugget comes from Arizona’s renowned Kingman Mine, collected during the 1970s mining period, when turquoise was at the heart of Southwestern lapidary artistry. Each nugget displays the distinctive sky-blue hue and web-like matrix that defined mid-century jewelry traditions.
Unstabilized and natural, this specimen retains its original character — a tactile reminder of American gem history and the skilled hands that once sorted and shaped Kingman turquoise by sight and color alone.
Turquoise is a hydrous copper aluminum phosphate mineral that forms through the chemical alteration of copper-rich host rock in arid regions. Hydrothermal fluids deposit turquoise in fractures and cavities, often replacing feldspar and volcanic minerals over thousands of years.
The Kingman deposit, located in the Cerbat Mountains of northwestern Arizona, is one of the world’s oldest and most storied turquoise-producing regions. 1970s-era material is particularly sought after for its hardness, vivid blue tone, and fine-grained matrix patterns — qualities that distinguish true vintage Arizona turquoise.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Mineral Class | Phosphate |
| Chemical Formula | CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O |
| Crystal System | Triclinic |
| Mohs Hardness | 5 – 6 |
| Locality / Formation Type | Kingman Mine, Cerbat Mountains, Arizona – Copper Phosphate Vein Deposit |
Kingman turquoise has been prized for centuries — first by Indigenous peoples of the Southwest and later by Navajo and Zuni artisans whose silverwork helped define the turquoise jewelry era of the 1960s–1970s.
During the 1970s boom, Kingman was among the few American mines producing consistent, gem-grade material. Nuggets from this decade are now considered vintage finds, representing an era when turquoise was traded internationally yet still intimately tied to Arizona’s desert landscape and cultural identity.
Turquoise has long symbolized wisdom, endurance, and the harmony between sky and earth. Kingman turquoise, in particular, reflects the unique balance of desert beauty — where copper veins and ancient rock formations yield a color as vivid as the Arizona sky.
Collectors value 1970s nuggets for their authenticity, traceable locality, and warm vintage patina — each one a geological and cultural artifact of the American Southwest.
This nugget displays classic Kingman color — bright blue with fine brown to black matrix veining and subtle natural polish from age. Compact and vibrant, the 1-inch size offers a glimpse into the mine’s most iconic era, ideal for display, inlay, or collection alongside other American gemstones.
Clean gently with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid chemicals, ultrasonic cleaning, and prolonged sunlight exposure, which may affect surface tone. Store separately from harder stones to maintain its natural polish and surface integrity.
| Weight | 3 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1 × .50 × 1 in |
