Navajo Bracelet of Ingot Silver and Morenci Turquoise

This Navajo-made bracelet was formed from ingot silver.  Three strips of silver expand outward from the ends of the bracelet and a large oval Morenci turquoise stone sits on the center.  Stamped designs of traditional Navajo style cover all the exposed silver foundation.  Repoussé leaves flank the stone. 

Morenci turquoise was mined in Arizona in a mine initially explored for its copper deposits. Copper mine workers would collect turquoise from the mine and sell it on their own.  Starting in 1956, William "Lucky" Brown obtained turquoise rights to the mine and began mining for turquoise, which overtook copper mining.  Now, turquoise mining at Morenci is at an end and copper mining is back as the prime output of the Morenci Mine.  Morenci turquoise is a high quality beautiful blue color with an iron pyrite matrix that makes the turquoise sought after for use in jewelry.

Morenci is best known by collectors because it was one of the first American turquoise available.  The mine is depleted and closed now so Morenci stones are relatively rarely on the market except in older jewelry such as this bracelet which dates to circa 1940s. 

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading: Turquoise Unearthed: An Illustrated Guide by Joe Dan Lowry.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Idaho