6 Types of Turquoise and How To Identify Them

If you’re new to turquoise, it can be hard to tell why one stone looks bright blue, another leans green, and another has heavy webbing across the surface. Understanding the types of turquoise and how to identify them starts with the source. Where a stone was mined helps explain its color, matrix, and character, and that makes it much easier to recognize what you’re looking at.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona. The mine got its name from the outline of the nearby mountain, which resembles a woman lying on her back.

This mine became one of the most recognized turquoise sources in the United States, and its name is still closely tied to some of the most sought-after American turquoise on the market. Even though the mine is no longer active for turquoise production, stones from this source still hold strong appeal because of their history, rarity, and unmistakable look.

What Features Does It Have?

Sleeping Beauty turquoise has a clean, recognizable appearance that sets it apart from more heavily patterned varieties.

• Bright Sky-Blue Color: The stone is known for its vivid blue tone with a crisp, clear look.
• Little To No Matrix: The surface has very little visible veining or webbing.
• Smooth, Even Appearance: Its consistent color gives it a neat, polished finish.
• Refined Character: The clean surface gives it a classic, elevated look.

Kingman Turquoise

Kingman turquoise comes from northwestern Arizona, where the Kingman mine has produced turquoise for well over a century. The area has a long history of turquoise mining, and that legacy gives Kingman a strong place in the story of American turquoise. It remains one of the most recognized and important turquoise sources in the country. Its broad range of color and pattern gives it lasting appeal across many jewelry styles.

What Features Does It Have?

Kingman turquoise is known for its variation in both color and matrix, which gives it a stronger natural pattern than cleaner stones.

• Blue To Blue-Green Color: The stone ranges from bright blue to deeper blue-green.
• Visible Matrix Patterns: Webbing and veining are common and give each stone a distinct look.
• High Contrast: The body color and matrix often stand apart clearly.
• Natural Character: Its variation gives it a grounded, expressive appearance.

Number Eight Turquoise

Number Eight turquoise comes from the Number Eight mine in Nevada, one of the best-known historic turquoise sources in the American West. The mine earned recognition for producing stones with strong color and bold matrix. Because the mine is closed, Number Eight turquoise carries added rarity along with its visual appeal. Its source history and striking look continue to make it highly desirable.

What Features Does It Have?

Number Eight turquoise is known for bold patterning and strong contrast, which give it a very distinct identity.

• Blue To Blue-Green Color: The stone shows rich, saturated tones.
• Distinct Spiderweb Matrix: Strong webbing gives the surface a recognizable pattern.
• Brown, Gold, Or Black Veining: The matrix adds warmth and contrast.
• Collector Appeal: Its closed-mine status adds to its desirability.

Royston Turquoise

Royston turquoise comes from the Royston mining district in Nevada, a source known for producing stones with strong natural variation and unmistakable Southwestern character. That mining district built its reputation on turquoise with rich color, visible matrix, and a look that feels distinctly connected to the land. Royston doesn’t present one single visual style, which is part of what gives it such lasting appeal. Its source identity is rooted in variety, texture, and a more rugged natural beauty.

What Features Does It Have?

Royston turquoise is known for its layered color and textured surface, which give it a more natural, earthy look.

• Blue To Green Color: The stone appears in shades ranging from blue to green.
• Prominent Matrix: Veining and host rock are visible and add clear pattern to the surface.
• Warm Earth Tones: Brown, tan, and gold accents give the stone added depth.
• Distinct Natural Character: Its variation in color and pattern makes each stone feel individual.

Bisbee Turquoise

Bisbee turquoise comes from the Bisbee area in southeastern Arizona, a mining region with a long and well-known history. The region became especially respected for producing turquoise with intense color and strong matrix, which gave Bisbee a very distinct identity among American varieties. Bisbee is no longer producing turquoise, and that closed status adds to the stone’s rarity and desirability. This type of turquoise is closely associated with high-grade natural material and a look that feels bold, historic, and deeply rooted in the Southwest.

What Features Does It Have?

Bisbee turquoise is known for rich color and dramatic contrast, which give it a strong visual presence.

• Deep Blue Color: The stone is known for saturated blue tones with a vivid, high-quality appearance.
• Dark Matrix: Brown, black, or smoky matrix runs through the surface and creates strong pattern.
• High Contrast Look: The body color and matrix stand apart clearly, which gives the stone extra depth.
• Collector Appeal: Its closed-mine status and recognizable appearance make it especially desirable.

Morenci Turquoise

Morenci turquoise comes from the Morenci mining area in southeastern Arizona, one of the most important historic turquoise sources in the United States. The mine became known for producing turquoise with vivid color and distinctive pyrite inclusions, which helped set Morenci apart from other American varieties. Because turquoise from this source is no longer widely available, Morenci carries added rarity along with its strong visual identity. Its reputation rests on both source history and a look that feels unmistakable once you know what to look for.

What Features Does It Have?

Morenci turquoise is known for bright color and metallic inclusions that give it a very specific appearance.

• Bright Blue Color: The stone is known for strong blue tones with a clear, vivid look.
• Pyrite Inclusions: Small flecks of pyrite can appear in the stone and create a metallic effect.
• Distinct Surface Detail: Inclusions add texture and visual interest without overpowering the color.
• Recognizable Character: The combination of blue color and pyrite gives Morenci turquoise a look that’s easy to separate from other varieties.

Why It Pays to Know the Difference

Turquoise is a beautiful stone that can take on different colors, patterns, and textures based on factors like where it was mined and the minerals present as it formed. Once you understand the types of turquoise and how to identify them, the details start to feel much clearer, and each variety becomes easier to recognize for what it is.

At John Henry Co., we carry Native American turquoise jewelry for anyone interested in adding distinctive, story-rich pieces featuring this remarkable stone to their jewelry box. We partner with Native American artists from a variety of tribes, and the pieces in our store are all authentic. We’re always happy to share more about their background if you reach out and ask. Explore our collection and see if there’s something that speaks to you.