Nevada State Gemstone or Gem

Nevada Turquoise

(Hydrated Copper Aluminum Phosphate)

Adopted on May 27, 1987.

Turquoise, Hydrated Copper Aluminum Phosphate, is Nevada's semi-precious gemstone. Sometimes called the "jewel of the desert," Nevada turquoise is found in many parts of the state. Long popular as jewelry among Native Americans, turquoise is also a state symbol of Arizona and New Mexico. Nevada's designation was made on May 27, 1987.

Prehistoric peoples of the Western hemisphere knew of the turquoise as we have found pieces in burial and archeological sites throughout the two continents. The Anasazi and Hohokam mined turquoise throughout our Southwest. Absolute evidence exists that these prehistoric people mined turquoise at Cerillos and the Burro Mountains of New Mexico, Kingman and Morenci in Arizona and the Conejos areas of Colorado. Turquoise was a popular trade item as so much has been found in archeological sites many hundreds of miles away from its source. A prime example is the Cerillos, New Mexico, turquoise found with the Aztecs.

Turquoise, as mentioned earlier, was a very important item to the early inhabitants of both North and South America. The stone was used in religion, art, trade, treaty negotiations as well as for jewelry. It was considered by some to be associated with life itself.

The Apache believed that turquoise helped warriors and hunters to aim accurately. Clear sky blue with no green modifying color and no black veins running through is also produced in Arizona and New Mexico. In general the bluer the blue, the more highly valued. A clear even texture without mottleing or veins is also preferred. However, some people prefer turquoise with veins, sometimes called spiderwebs, which set off the color.

Turquoise's color ranges from sky blue to green. Turquoise is a vibrant light blue stone often seen in southwestern jewelry. It is reasonably priced and quite lovely.

NRS 235.110 State semiprecious gemstone. The semiprecious gemstone known as Nevada turquoise is hereby designated as the official state semiprecious gemstone of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 456)