Bisbee Turquoise Treasures

04/30/2026

09/15/2025

Some of my works in progress

06/02/2025

We went out to find more turquoise today! Perfect day after a rain. ☔️ let us know if you got rain!

03/06/2025

Love Bisbee!

Lavender Pit, a massive open-pit copper mine in Bisbee, Arizona. This pit is one of the most striking reminders of Bisbee’s deep mining history and its importance in the copper industry.

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘁

Location: Bisbee, Arizona
Opened: 1950 (so it's much newer than the 1903 Brewery Gulch era)
Closed: 1974
Size: Approximately 300 acres and over 900 feet deep.
Name: It’s named after Harrison M. Lavender, the Phelps Dodge Corporation official who pushed for the transition from underground to open-pit mining at Bisbee.
𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

The Copper Queen Mine, which operated underground, was one of the most productive copper mines in the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
By the 1950s, open-pit mining became more economical, and the Lavender Pit was created, swallowing whole neighborhoods in the process, including parts of Lowell, a former mining town that was absorbed into Bisbee.
The pit exposed beautiful rock formations with layers of different minerals, including copper, malachite, azurite, and turquoise, which are still visible in the walls today.
𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆

Today, the Lavender Pit is a popular tourist attraction, with viewing platforms and interpretive signs explaining Bisbee's mining history.
The water at the bottom of the pit is a mix of rainwater and acidic runoff, which gives it that surreal dark, reddish-black color.
Bisbee itself, after the closure of the mine, transformed into a quirky, artsy town known for its historic architecture, ghost tours, and creative community.

02/17/2025

Jim is at it again making pretty jewelry

02/09/2025

Jim made this necklace today! 10 carats of Bisbee Turquoise he hand wrapped in copper. It’s 24” in length with a magnetic clasp. A one-of-kind piece. Perfect for your jewelry collection! $120 with free shipping. Send us a message if you’re interested.

02/09/2025

Jim is working on making some wired necklaces to add to the site!

02/09/2025

Look at the stones we have available! Beautiful and ready for you to turn into your new piece! Contact us for more details!

02/09/2025

Welcome to our new site featuring stones and cabochons from Bisbee and southern Arizona. Look at our assortment of beautiful turquoise and other semi-precious stones, ready to make into your one-of-kind piece. Thank you for taking the time to take a peek at our selections