Green Spiderweb Turquoise

Turquoise is a complex gemstone as there were many variables in its creation that gave it the ultimate qualities it possesses today. Turquoise is a sedimentary gemstone that is formed by moisture seeping though soil that contains copper, aluminum sulfites and iron mineralization - a solution of these minerals flows downward and pools in hard rockck cracks and/or voids in the earth below to form a conglomerate. Turquoise forms in very few areas of the world, the different percentages of minerals, the climate of the region and variations in its formation determine the coloration and unique characteristics of each Turquoise deposit. There are definite regions of the world that produce higher quality of Turquoise than others and the southwest region of the United States is known for producing some of the finest Turquoise on earth including the rare and highly coveted Green Spiderweb Turquoise.

Green Spiderweb Turquoise

Of all the variations and colorations of natural Turquoise, the sencond most valuable in the world is Green Spiderweb Turquoise and Variscite. When it comes to rarity, beauty, and collectibility Green Spiderweb Turquoise is right up there at the top, especially lime green varieties which are alot of times actually Variscite or Faustite which are cousins of Turquoise which display all the same minerals of Turquoise but do not have enough copper in them to be considered Turquoise by scientists. As you can see from the above Damele Spiderweb Turquoise cabochons, or the Snowville Variscite Spiderweb Cabochons directly above, when gem Turquoise and Variscite has a stricking green color and features either black, brown or red spiderweb matrix the out come is sheer beauty. Spiderweb Turquoise is less than 5% of what is produced out of most Turquoise mines world wide, and top gem quality spiderweb Turquoise is even more rare. To get the perfect Green Spiderweb Turquoise, that is hard, gem grade, natural, with perfectly balance spiderweb matrix is less than 1% of what is produced from all mines in the world! Other than the mouth watering beauty of spiderweb Turquoise, the rarity is one of the main reasons this variety of Turquoise comands the prices it does. When it comes to Turquoise blue has always been king, even though on today's market many of the green Turquoise varieties are gaining popularity and value rapidly, especially the rare colors such as the lime green Turquoise, yellow green, and mint green Turquoise and Variscite. Beings as blue is king in Turquoise, and many peoples favorite color is blue, it is not surprising that Green Spiderweb Turquoise is the second most valuable. To green lovers this could not be further from the truth. This variety of natural Turquoise is most valuable and highly collected by the Japanese and American gem collectors. In other parts of the world clear or matrix free blue Turquoise such as Sleeping Beauty Turquoise has been the most popular and highly prized for centuries, but that is quickly changing as these foriegn collectors realize the rarity and value of Spiderweb Turquoise and knowledge of the wider varieties of natural Turquoise.

Examples of Green Spiderweb Turquoise from Different Mines

Above to the left is a large handmade Sterling Silver dinner ring with natural lime green Damele Green Spiderweb Variscite from Nevada, USA. You can see how beautiful the chocolate brown spiderweb matrix is in the semi translucent deep lime green gemstone. Damele is one of most collected of the Green Spiderweb Turquoise varieties as well as some of the most valuable Variscite and Faustite in the world. The center picture is of a classic Native American row bracelet with top gem grade natural Tibetan Turquoise which is of the ultra rare lime green spiderweb variety. This material is extremely hard to come by. To the right is a picture of a handmade Sterling Silver ring for men with forest green and golden yellow spiderweb Royston Turquoise. This beautiful stone could easily pass for high grade Manassa Turquoise from Colorado.

Above to the left is a hand cut cabochon of high grade natural Battle Mountain green spiderweb turquoise from Nevada. In the middle is an outrageous piece of natural lime green spiderweb Turquoise from the Hubei region in China. We are not sure which mine this is from but the rough Turquoise we purchased from China Mountain Turquoise company. This is extremely rare and valuable. Out of a warehouse of Turquoise we have only been able to purchase a few pounds at a time throughout the decades they have been in business! To the right is a top gem grade cabochon of classic high grade Royston Turquoise from Tonopah, Nevada. This is the best Royston has to offer in our opinions. Look at the beauty of the deep green Turquoise which fades to light blue and features golden spiderweb matrix.

Above the left is an oval cabochon of aqua blue green Manassa Turquoise from Colorado. This beautiful stone features golden yellow spiderweb matrix. In the past this would be considered green Turquoise. To my eyes this is blue, of coarse I am a man, but when I think of green I am thinking of forest green, lime green, military green, you get the picture. In the center is a lime green piece of natural Tortoise Turquoise from Nevada. This beautiful natural Green Spiderweb Turquoise goes from lime green to a mint green and has beautiful black matrixk with mahogany brown in the center. To the right is a rare piece of high grade spiderweb Stormy Mountain Turquoise from Nevada with beautiful orange and golden brown spiderweb. This stone is very unique because it features aqua blue Turquoise with dendrites and spiderweb matrix. Around the matrix the Turquoise is a beautiful forest green. Again traditional Turquoise Jewelry artisans call this green Turquoise.

More about Turquoise

Natural Lander Blue Turquoise

Spiderweb Turquoise Nuggets - Turquoise is found in arid areas that are rich in specific metallic minerals. In this type of climate, flash storms occur which cause bursts of seepage through these minerals to form the solution that creates Turquoise conglomerate in voids beneath the earth. When the conglomerate solidifies and the moisture in the soil evaporates quickly, the conglomerate dries quickly as well to cause a cracking effect much like you would see on the earths surface in times of draught. In another period of time these open cracks get filled in with another mineral such as limonite (brown colored matrix), manganese (black colored matrix), iron (red colored matrix) or other. Another effect would be a second dose of the Turquoise solution which may cause what is known as water webbing.

Spider webbing in Turquoise Vein - Our earth is constantly shifting, it is in an endless state of evolution. Rock beneath the earth has voids in the form of cracks and the Turquoise solution as above finds its way to conglomerate in these cracks. The same fracturing effect as above could cause the webbing, also, the earth could shift to cause fracturing of the Turquoise. Some of the hardest Turquoise found in in vein - with this being said we also find very hard spiderweb Turquoise in vein material.

Spider webbing from vegetation - There are many types of plant life that have intense root systems - in arid areas where Turquoise is found plants must have an intricate root system to survive. At the Tortoise Mine we have found premature Turquoise developing amongst intricate root systems of old plant life. We believe the roots dry up and are then replaced with manganese to form what has now become black spiderweb matrix.

It is certain there are many other factors that cause irregularities of matrix configuration in Turquoise, however, there is one thing that is certain - Spiderweb Turquoise is a rarity in nature, it is enchanting in appearance and it is highly sought after by Turquoise connoisseurs as well as investors in rare gemstones. Spider webbed Matrix in Turquoise is found in less than 1/10th of 1% of high grade Turquoise! There are many different colors and matrix variations of Turquoise that will enchant your imagination, however, to us, Spiderweb Turquoise is the pinnacle of rarity and beauty! This is a presentation specifically on Spiderweb Turquoise. This presentation has a lot of educational information as well as many great examples that will help you understand why we believe Spiderweb Turquoise Gemstones are so valuable.

Natural Easter Blue Turquoise

Natural Spiderweb Turquoise can be very valuable. There are many variables such as color of the Turquoise, color of the webbing, hardness, rarity of the Turquoise deposit, historical value and the demand for the particular type of Turquoise. The structure of the webbing is also important, a dense and unobstructed webbing pattern that has good character is highly desirable. Red Iron colored webbing is the most rare type of American Spiderweb Turquoise, black webbing is also high in demand, however, golden brown to brown colorations are very attractive thus very collectible.

American Turquoise Mines are known worldwide for the exceptional Spiderweb Turquoise that they have produced in the past. Nevada Turquoise Mines produce the majority of the highest quality American Spiderweb Turquoise, Arizona has produced a fair amount of Webbed Turquoise in the past and the Kingman Turquoise Mine is presently (2014) the only American Turquoise Mine producing substantial quantities of Spiderweb Turquoise of high enough quality to cut Spiderweb Turquoise Cabochons.

Global Turquoise Mines - In approximately 1985, a vast amount of Spiderweb Turquoise was discovered in the Turquoise dumps in China. For the past several hundred years the Chinese had been discarding what they thought was inferior Turquoise as sky blue and clear Turquoise was what sold throughout Asia and the Middle East. American Turquoise Buyers bought tens of thousands of lbs of Chinese Spiderweb Turquoise that was very hard and rich in color from being out of the mines curing in the elements of the earths surface. Today, natural Spiderweb Turquoise from China or any other country has become very hard to find. Buyers beware, most Turquoise coming out of China today is Fake Turquoise. Tibetan Turquoise mines have also produced a lot of beautiful spiderweb Turquoise, as have the Egyptian Turquoise mines and Persian Turquoise mines.