TYRONE TURQUOISE

Turquoise mining in the Burro Mountains near Silver City, New Mexico, has been going on since pre-historic times. The Tyrone mine produced great quantities of hard, deep and bright blue turquoise as well as pale spring green turquoise. "Turquoise John" or John Coleman, is credited with the modern unearthing of Turquoise in this area. It is said he discovered some of the old mining activities while he was on a hunting trip in 1875. It is also told that WJ Foley and Nicholas Ransome were told by local Native traders that the ancient workings were hidden in the mountains, and a search resulted in the discovery of the ancient excavations. The mine hasn't produced any turquoise since the 80's, when Phelps Dodge changed its method of mining copper to the process of crushing and acid wash which destroys the Turquoise. Turquoise from this mine is highly collectible.