DESCRIPTION: This fabulous necklace features sterling silver beads and a sterling silver hand stamped collar. Dangling from the collar are 5 pendants adorned with exquisite blue Bisbee turquoise. This exquisite necklace will be a valuable addition to your collection of fine vintage Native American jewelry. MEASUREMENTS: Necklace measures 18long end to end. Pendants measure 1 long. Beads are securely strung on chain. WEIGHT: 22.5 grams. STERLING: unmarked, verified sterling silver History of Bisbee Turquoise. Founded in the 1870s, the Bisbee Turquoise Mine was a copper mine in Arizona owned by Phelps Dodge Company. In 1950, while mining for copper, they discovered turquoise in an area called The Lavender Pit. The Phelps company had no use for the blue stone, and until 1972 they just let it sit there or dumped it. During the extraction efforts, there were no organized attempts to recover the turquoise. The mine loaded it into large trucks and transported it to landfills. Company employees took home some of the turquoise recovered between 1950 to 1960. Although this went against company policy, it was not enforced. For many years in the 1970s, these people were the only ones that had turquoise. How is Bisbee Turquoise Mined? The mining of Bisbee turquoise involves a process called room and pillar mining. This type of mining involves excavating large rooms in the rock, leaving pillars of rock to support the roof. First, there is the extraction of all the valuable minerals from the room. The next is the removal of the pillars holding up the roof, which causes it to collapse. This goes on until the extraction of all material is complete. This process is controversial, as it can damage the surrounding environment. As a result, many miners now use more sustainable techniques. This includes open-pit mining or selective blasting to get to the turquoise veins. Closing Of The Mine. The Phelps Dodge Company closed the mine due to environmental pressures. The Bisbee turquoise deposits were totally exhausted and are no longer available in quantities that can be commercially mined. Because of its rarity, Bisbee Turquoise is more expensive than other varieties of turquoise. However, its investment quality and beauty make it a popular addition to any collection.