Mined for only a short span of time in the 60’s and 70’s, the classic Blue Diamond Turquoise stone was a very small deposit – considered a ‘hat’ mine – because you could cover the findings with your hat. It is located between Tonopah and Austen, Nevada. Blue Diamond Turquoise »»
The Bisbee Turquoise Mine south of Tucson, Arizona was originally founded in the 1870’s as a huge copper mine.
In 1950, the Phelps Dodge Company was mining copper, when in an area of the mine called “The Lavender Pit” they found turquoise. Today, this rare bright blue turquoise is known in the trade as Bisbee Turquoise. Bisbee Turquoise Mine »»
Originally known as Stone Cabin Mine, and then Aurora #8, the Carico Lake Turquoise Mine has a colorful history for a dried-up lake bed in a remote part of Lander County, Nevada between Austen and Cresent Valley, Nevada. Carico Lake Turquoise Mine »»
Fee mining sites are places where you can pay a fee to dig, pan, or search for rocks, minerals or gemstones and keep whatever you find.
There are many places in the United States where you can pan for gold, wash gravel for gemstones, or split rocks to find fossils and have a reasonable chance of being very successful.
We have been to fee mining sites many times, had some fun, and found some nice materials. We did not make a great find every time but it was a good experience overall. Pay to Dig Fee Mining Sites for Gems, Minerals, Gold, and Crystals »»
If you have looked at inexpensive gemstone beads, cabochons, and tumbled stones, your eye has probably been drawn to a sky-blue material with a semi-gloss polish that looks exactly like turquoise.
Take a look at the tumbled stones and dyed nuggets in the photos. They look like turquoise but they are really dyed howlite. Now you know to be skeptical when you see a nice blue stone that looks like turquoise. The Turquoise Impostors: Dyed Howlite and Magnesite »»
This simple DIY leather circle drawstring poke bag (also known as a money pouch or round coin purse) is as simple as they come. You can make it as large or small as you’d like, wear it as a necklace, on a belt, or even tuck it into a larger pouch to hold your coins or smaller knickknacks.
It uses very little material, can be made in less than 5 minutes, and is extremely durable! Easy enough even for a kid’s art project.