Most of the turquoise production in the United States has been located in the arid southwest, and most of that production has been in or around deposits of copper. Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada have all held the position of the leading turquoise-producing state. New Mexico held that position until the 1920s, Nevada held the position until the 1980s, and Arizona is currently the leading state. Significant amounts of turquoise have been produced in California, Colorado, Utah, Texas, and Arkansas.

Most of the turquoise mined in the United States is a byproduct of copper production. The large open-pit copper mines excavate down through the shallow rock units where the turquoise is formed. When turquoise is encountered, the quantity and quality of the material is assessed, and, only if warranted, will a temporary effort be made to recover the gem material. If the value of the turquoise is worth disrupting a billion dollar mining operation, it will be mined. The mining could be done by copper company employees, but the job often goes to outside miners who come to the mine at a moment’s notice, quickly recover the turquoise, and get out of the way!