Blue Gem Turquoise

Welcome to  ROYAL BLUE GEM TURQUOISE!

                                                                    My Blue Gem Collection and how I acquired it

             My name is Jim Elquist I went to school in Battle Mtn. from the 3rd grade through High School and graduated in 1954.

             I began mining in 1955 in the Copper Canyon Mine for Copper right out of High School. Back then it was shipped out by railcar to Garfield, UT. to the American Smelter and Refinery. In 1958 Copper Canyon Mine sold the Copper Canyon and Copper Basin Mining claims to American Smelter and Refinery. There they drilled the property for sometime proving there was a commercial copper deposit. During that time American Smelter turned around and sold the property to the Duvall Corp. out of Texas.

             Duvall Corp. began open pit mining in 1965, 4 years later they hit a large Turquoise deposit that was 250 feet deep @ a 60 degree angle and around 1976-1977 they hit gold and that’s how Battle Mountain Gold got its name, Which is now owned by Newmont Gold.

             Well you see, there had been picking rights to all the turquoise clear back from the early 30’s which had either been sold or passed down to next of kin through the years. My father was one of the owners of the picking rights for the Blue Gem Turquoise during the time they hit that deposit. So then we mined the Blue Gem Turquoise, on top of the Copper and Gold. Picking rights are no longer available at this Mine.

             Around 1976-1977 the turquoise market went down and it just wasn't selling. I continued on with my picking rights for a few years and decided to just hold on to what I had because some day I knew the market would come back around. Well its now 30 years later and I am proud to say that I have some Blue Gem Turquoise to sell to all you turquoise fanatics.  Here it is out of the Blue Gem Mine in Battle Mtn., NV. ,  From me to you.

                                                                                             Story told by James Elquist  

                                                                                                                                                                                     Written by Tawnya Pruett

Royal Blue Gem The Finest Quality In Turquoise

           ~Built and designed by Tawnya Pruett~

 

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