There is evidence of turquoise use in China dating at least as far back as 1700BC. Today China has mines that produce a great deal of turquoise. Chinese turquoise ranges in color from sky blue to spring green. Turquoise from mines in China accounts for about 80% of the stones in the U.S. market today. When the Chinese turquoise first hit the American Market, it was considered a exceptional rock; ahdr and deep blue. It almost looked like the American turquoise Lander's Blueor Indian Mountain. 

The Sleeping Beauty mine is seven miles outside of Globe, Arizona. It is noted for its solid, light blue color with no matrix. The host rock is usually granite. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is the favorite of the Zuni Pueblo silversmiths for use in petit point, needlepoint and inlay jewelry. This mine is one of the largest in North America. Monty Nichols, owner and miner of the Sleeping Beauty mine, says that the mine is producing about 1600 pounds a month. Of that, only 4% is natural. Most of the turquoise from the mine, 80-90%, is altered in some way. Most of that percentage is enhanced, which is more expensive than stabilization, and sold to large distributors in this country and Europe. Now, most of the turquoise that comes out of that mine comes from the tons of tailings piles that have been accumulating all these years.

Morenci Turquoise is mined in southeastern Arizona. It is high to light blue in color. Morenci has an unusual matrix of irregular black pyritethat, when polished, often looks like silver. Morenci Turquoise is well known because it was one of the first Americana turquoise to come on the market. It is very difficult to obtain now because the mine is depleted. It is a collectible turquoise.