EXPRESSIVE VINTAGE NAVAJO PILOT MOUNTAIN TURQUOISE STERLING SILVER RING OLD Sz7

  

This is a fascinating vintage Navajo silver ring. Such an ornamental framing of silver rope, swirls and beads for this stunning large oval Pilot Mountain turquoise stone! The ring face measures around 1"½ x 1"? The ring size is around 7 Sterling silver.

No marks but tested as sterling silver. The Pilot Mountain mine is located in western Nevada, east of the small town of Mina. As with most turquoise mines, this mine opened as a copper claim. Pilot Mountain turquoise was first mined around 1930 as a tunnel mine, and then became an open pit mine when heavy equipment was available around 1970. While Pilot Mountain is considered an active mine it is a very small operation. Pilot Mountain turquoise forms in hard veins with color ranging from bright blue to dark blue with a greenish cast. The matrix is typically composed of dark brown limonite mottled patterns.

Most Pilot Mountain turquoise is called "grass roots", meaning the best deposits are found within ten feet of the surface.