Number 8 Turquoise

The Number 8 mine — so named because it was the eighth mining claim staked in its district — operated in the Lynn Mining District of Lander County, north-central Nevada. The turquoise deposit was discovered in the early twentieth century as a byproduct of copper and gold prospecting in the region. Commercial turquoise production began in earnest in the 1930s and continued intermittently until the mine's closure in 1976, with the most significant production occurring in the 1950s and 1960s.

The geological setting at Number 8 differs from the copper-porphyry deposits that produce turquoise at Bisbee and Morenci. The turquoise formed in a chert and shale host rock environment within a zone of secondary copper enrichment, where supergene fluids carrying dissolved copper, aluminum, and phosphorus precipitated turquoise in fractures, voids, and along bedding planes. The specific chemistry of the host rock — rich in iron oxides and limonite — imparted the golden-brown to reddish-brown matrix coloration that is the Number 8 signature.

Total production from the Number 8 mine is estimated at several thousand pounds of gem-quality turquoise, making it a moderately prolific producer by American standards — substantially more productive than Lander Blue but far less than the massive outputs of Royston or Carico Lake. The closure of the mine in 1976 terminated new production, and no subsequent attempts to reopen the deposit have been commercially successful. Like Bisbee and Sleeping Beauty, Number 8 is a finite resource whose every existing cabochon was extracted decades ago.

Number 8 turquoise is defined by its matrix. While many American turquoise varieties produce spider-web matrix — the web-like network of host rock veining that permeates the turquoise body — Number 8's matrix is distinguished by its warm golden-brown to amber coloration, a result of the limonite (hydrated iron oxide) that saturates the host rock. This golden matrix creates a visual warmth absent in the black-matrix varieties from mines like Lone Mountain or the chocolate-brown matrix characteristic of Bisbee.

The interplay between Number 8's blue to blue-green turquoise body and its golden-brown matrix creates a color harmony that gemologists and collectors describe as particularly attractive — the warm and cool tones complement rather than contrast each other, producing stones that appear to glow with internal warmth. The finest Number 8 specimens display a tight, evenly distributed spider-web pattern with consistent golden-brown matrix color throughout, against a saturated medium-blue body color.

Grading Number 8 turquoise follows the general principles applied to matrix turquoise varieties but with specific criteria reflecting the stone's distinctive characteristics. The blue body color should be saturated and consistent, ideally in the medium-blue to slightly blue-green range that is the Number 8 standard. The golden-brown matrix should be well-distributed across the stone in a true spider-web pattern rather than concentrated in a few heavy veins. Matrix color should be warm and golden rather than dark brown or black — the lighter, more amber-toned matrix is the hallmark that distinguishes Number 8 from other spider-web turquoise varieties.

A significant subset of Number 8 production features a blue-green body color that tends more toward green than the blue ideal. This material, while genuine Number 8, typically commands lower prices than the bluer specimens, reflecting the market's general preference for blue over green in American turquoise. However, the golden matrix displays equally well against both color variants, and some collectors actively prefer the green-toned material for its distinctive character.

Number 8 turquoise occupies a strong position in the collector market, with authenticated specimens commanding $30 to $150 per carat depending on quality. The most valued pieces — large cabochons with perfect golden spider-web matrix against saturated blue body color — represent some of the most visually striking turquoise available to collectors and jewelers.

Authentication of Number 8 turquoise relies primarily on the distinctive golden-brown matrix coloration and spider-web pattern. While other mines produce spider-web turquoise with brown matrix, the specific amber-golden tone of Number 8's limonite matrix is diagnostically useful when evaluated by experienced dealers and gemologists. However, the proliferation of treated and enhanced turquoise in the market means that authentication by visual characteristics alone is insufficient for high-value purchases.

Native American jewelers prize Number 8 turquoise for its visual impact and versatility. The warm golden matrix tones harmonize beautifully with both oxidized and bright-polished silver, and the stone's natural warmth makes it an excellent choice for jewelry intended for everyday wear, where its colors complement a wide range of skin tones and wardrobe palettes. Many contemporary Navajo and Zuni silversmiths consider Number 8 among their preferred turquoise varieties for statement pieces, alongside Bisbee and Sleeping Beauty.

For collectors building a comprehensive American turquoise collection, Number 8 is an essential inclusion. Its combination of visual distinction, historical significance, and closed-mine scarcity places it firmly in the upper tier of collectible American turquoise, and authenticated pieces in fine silver settings by recognized artists represent sound investments in both aesthetic and financial terms.