Goldfinger
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Blue Gem Turquoise MineAnyone here know the status of the Blue Gem Turquoise mine south of Battle Mountain? Active? - Not active? Under claim? Etc I think this mine was located in the Copper Basin area.
Steve
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Reno Chris
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Private property (patented mining claim)
Held by Newmont
The deposit was mined out as an open pit in the 1980s and early 1990s. The location of the mine is now a big hole (it no longer exists).
Not activly being mined.
Chris
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Goldfinger
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That's kind of sad. The Blue Gem Mine produced an electric blue colored turquoise. I was just wondering because I came across an ad for some rough awhile back and wanted to know the status of the mine itself.
Chris- btw- when do you plan on having the rest of your website up and running?
Steve
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Reno Chris
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Yah, I been busy with stuff and have not worked on it much lately. I hope to get back to it and have it up by mid September.
Chris
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Everett
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Chris,
Do you know of any other turquoise areas where a guy might find a piece that you would offer to tell about? I know gems and such are your 2nd interest next to gold.
I have never found any, but I was usually looking for the gold stuff. I have found some copper I first thought might be turquoise as a distance, but no.
Not asking you to give away your best spots, just an idea of where to look.
Thanks in advance.
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Reno Chris
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Most turquoise locations in Nevada are well-claimed for 2 reasons.
1. Turquoise is valuable it can sell for amounts from a few dollars a pound for junk chalk to 2,500 per ound for real nice high quality stuff (about $150 per ounce). So mines and ares that produce good stuff are usually well claimed, just like gold mines that are good are usually well claimed.
2. In many settings, the same regional mineralizations that make for good turquoise also make for the famous "Carlin type" gold mines in Nevada. A very significant percentage of turquoise mines are near to or on the edge of large gold deposits. As a result many gold mining compaines hold locations over spots that were once turquoise mines.
Rather than advertize over the whole internet, I'll send you a PM with a little more info.
Chris
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Everett
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Chris, Thanks for the info I did not know the relationship of the two. Very interesting.
Anouther thing for me would be, if I think I'm in a Carlin type of an area I will probly head somewhere else. I would not know how to find gold I cant see. 
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Reno Chris
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It works out since the big companies are intent on going after the open pit large deposits, and dont give a rats behind about the little placers we are interested in.
Chris
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Goldfinger
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Chris:
What locations produce turquoise worth $2500.00 a lb? The most expensive material I've seen to date is $90.00 an ounce which is about $1500.00 a pound.
Steve
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Reno Chris
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I know that some material from the Godber (Drycreek) sells for that range.
Chris
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Goldfinger
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Chris:
It's ironic but I had just contacted the people who own and mine the Godber mine and they quoted me a price of .50 ct to $50.00 ct for cut freeform cabochons. At first I thought the $50.00 ct was a misprint but apparently not if they're selling the premium rough for $2500.00 a lb.
BTW- $50.00 ct works out to $120,000 lb
So if you guys ever come across any blue or green colored outcrops while detecting for nuggets- it might pay to sample it and see what you've got.
Steve
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