Colorado Turquoise Mines

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Cripple Creek Mine

The Cripple Creek Mine is located in Teller County, Colorado and is the site of a number of small gold mines. Cripple Creek turquoise is primarily found as a by-product of gold mining. There are several Turquoise claims such as the Elkhorn Claim, Florence Turquoise Mine, O'Haver Claim, Roanoke Shaft, Hidden Treasure Turquoise Mine. There is only one group still mining the Cripple Creek Mine. This area yields some greenish turquoise, and some light to dark blue turquoise with brown matrix. It is common to see turquoise jewelry with Cripple Creek Turquoise. On a rare occasion Cripple Creek Turquoise has been found with gold inclusions.

Manassa Mine

Manassa turquoise is mined east of Manassa, in south central Colorado. It is known for its blue-green to green color with a golden or brown, non-webbed matrix. The Manassa mine is still in production, and owned by the King family, thus the alternate name sometimes used for this turquoise. This stone is a favorite of many; the beautiful green color is very striking, excellent when used in gold.

This site, originally mined by Ancestral Pueblo peoples, was rediscovered in 1890 by gold prospector I.P. King, and his descendants still work the claim. King’s Manassa turquoise is best known for its brilliant greens and golden matrices, but blue and blue-green turquoise was found amid these deposits as well.