Sleeping Beauty turquoise is a natural, sky-blue turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty mine near Globe, Arizona, prized for its even robin's egg colour with little or no dark matrix. The mine stopped producing turquoise in August 2012 to focus on copper, so every genuine piece on the market today is older stock, which is why it has become rare and steadily more valuable.
If you have searched for Sleeping Beauty turquoise, you have probably run into the same handful of questions: is it real, why is it so expensive, how much is it worth, and how do you tell it from a fake? This guide answers each of them plainly, from the point of view of a Canadian crystal shop that cuts, sells, and handles this material. If you are looking to buy, you can see our current Sleeping Beauty turquoise rough pieces, each measured and weighed individually.
Quick facts about Sleeping Beauty turquoise
- Mineral: Turquoise, a hydrated copper aluminium phosphate
- Origin: Sleeping Beauty mine, Globe, Gila County, Arizona, USA
- Colour: Uniform sky blue to robin's egg blue; rarely greener tones
- Matrix: Minimal to none; occasional specks of pyrite or host rock in rough
- Hardness: About 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale
- Treatment: Much of it is hard enough to cut naturally; some is stabilized
- Mine status: Turquoise production stopped in August 2012
- Traditional chakra: Throat
What is Sleeping Beauty turquoise?
Sleeping Beauty turquoise is turquoise mined at the Sleeping Beauty mine, in the Globe-Miami mining district of Gila County, Arizona. The mine takes its name from the ridge above it, which from a distance looks like a woman lying on her back with her arms folded, asleep.
The claim was first worked in the late 1800s for copper and gold, and turquoise turned up as a byproduct. Its popularity took off in the 1970s, when its clean, solid blue became a favourite of Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi silversmiths and of jewellers across the American Southwest. Today the name has become shorthand for the classic "turquoise blue" that most people picture when they think of the stone.
Why is Sleeping Beauty turquoise so special?
Three things set it apart from most other turquoise:
- The colour. It is known for an even, bright sky blue across the whole stone. Many other deposits produce turquoise that shifts toward green, or that varies in colour within a single piece.
- Little or no matrix. Most turquoise carries webbing or patches of the host rock (brown, black, or gold lines). Sleeping Beauty is famous for having very little, which gives a clean, modern look and makes it easy to match stones for inlay and multi-stone jewellery.
- Density. The best material came out of the granite host rock in hard, compact nuggets and seams. Much of it could be cut and polished without stabilizing, which is unusual for turquoise, since a lot of turquoise worldwide is soft and chalky.
Is Sleeping Beauty turquoise rare?
Yes, and it is getting rarer. In August 2012 the Sleeping Beauty mine stopped its turquoise operation to concentrate on copper, which was worth more per tonne. The deposit did not run out; the turquoise simply stopped being collected. There are no announced plans to restart it.
That means every genuine piece of Sleeping Beauty turquoise you can buy today, whether it is a finished ring or a piece of rough, was mined before 2012. The supply is fixed and shrinking as old collections get cut into jewellery, which is the main reason prices have climbed steadily for more than a decade.
How much is Sleeping Beauty turquoise worth?
There is no single price, because value depends on colour, hardness, size, whether it is natural or stabilized, and whether it is rough or finished. As a general guide:
- Natural (untreated), hard, even blue material sits at the top of the market.
- Stabilized material is real turquoise and perfectly good for jewellery, but sells for less than natural.
- Rough is usually priced by the gram, and larger, clean, single-colour pieces command a premium per gram because they can yield bigger cabochons.
- Finished jewellery adds silverwork, labour, and the artist's name on top of the stone's value.
For reference, the natural Sleeping Beauty rough we currently list works out to roughly CA$20 to CA$40 per gram, depending on the piece. You can compare sizes and weights on our rare Arizona Sleeping Beauty rough (five pieces, 13 g to 36 g) and our collector cabochon rough (four pieces, 11 g to 38 g).
How can you tell if Sleeping Beauty turquoise is real?
Because genuine Sleeping Beauty is a solid blue with no webbing, it is one of the easiest turquoises to imitate. Dyed howlite, dyed magnesite, plastic, resin, and "reconstituted" turquoise (powder bound with resin) are all sold under the name. Here is what to check:
- Ask for provenance. A reputable seller should be able to tell you where the material came from and whether it is natural or stabilized. Treatment should always be disclosed.
- Look at the colour closely. Real turquoise is even, but not perfectly flat like paint. Under magnification you will often see slight tonal variation, tiny white spots, or a fleck of pyrite or host rock, especially in rough.
- Check the cracks and pits. Dye collects in cracks and looks darker there. In dyed howlite, any chip or drill hole shows bright white underneath.
- Feel the weight and temperature. Turquoise feels cool and fairly heavy for its size. Plastic and resin feel warm and light.
- Be wary of the price. A large, perfect "Sleeping Beauty" stone for a few dollars is almost certainly not Sleeping Beauty.
- When in doubt, get it tested. A gemmological lab can confirm turquoise and detect stabilization or dye.
We avoid scratch or hot-needle tests on finished pieces, since they can damage a genuine stone.
Is Sleeping Beauty turquoise stabilized?
Some is, some is not. A large share of the mine's output was hard enough to cut naturally, which is part of its reputation. Softer material from the same mine was often stabilized, meaning infused with a clear resin to harden it and lock in the colour. Stabilization is a widely accepted treatment and stabilized Sleeping Beauty is still genuine turquoise. What matters is that the seller tells you which one you are getting, because natural stone is worth more.
What is the difference between Sleeping Beauty and other turquoise?
- Sleeping Beauty vs Kingman: Kingman (also Arizona) comes in a wider range of blues and often shows black or brown matrix. Sleeping Beauty is known for a lighter, more uniform blue with almost no matrix.
- Sleeping Beauty vs Persian: Persian (Iranian) turquoise is also prized for clean sky blue. The two can look similar; origin and documentation are what separate them.
- Sleeping Beauty vs African turquoise: African turquoise is not turquoise at all. It is a green-blue jasper with dark spots. It is a lovely stone in its own right, used in pieces like our African turquoise and amethyst bracelet, but it is a different mineral.
What is rough Sleeping Beauty turquoise used for?
Rough is the uncut stone straight from the ground or from a collection. Lapidary artists slab it and cut it into cabochons for rings, pendants, and bolo ties, or use thin pieces for inlay work. Collectors also keep rough pieces as specimens, because with the mine closed, intact rough from a known source is increasingly hard to find.
If you plan to cut it yourself:
- Slab with a fine, thin blade and plenty of coolant.
- Work slowly and keep heat down; turquoise is softer than agate and can crack ("check") if it overheats.
- Finish with fine grits and a gentle polish such as cerium oxide or a dedicated turquoise compound.
- Plan your cut around any pyrite or host rock to decide whether you want a clean blue cabochon or a natural-character stone.
Sleeping Beauty turquoise meaning and spiritual properties
In crystal traditions, turquoise is one of the oldest protective stones, worn as an amulet across the American Southwest, Persia, Tibet, and Egypt for thousands of years. It is linked with the throat chakra and is associated with:
- Communication and truth: speaking clearly and honestly
- Protection: a traditional travellers' and warriors' stone
- Calm and balance: steadying the emotions
- Friendship and good fortune: turquoise is a classic gift stone and a December birthstone
Sleeping Beauty's soft, sky-blue colour is often described as especially calming. If the throat chakra side of turquoise speaks to you, our throat chakra bracelet with raw turquoise and lava stone is an everyday way to wear it, and the turquoise, black tourmaline and hematite bracelet pairs it with two grounding stones.
Crystal meanings are traditional and spiritual, not medical. Crystals are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
How do you care for Sleeping Beauty turquoise?
Turquoise is porous and fairly soft, so a little care keeps the colour bright for decades:
- Put jewellery on after lotion, perfume, and hairspray, since oils and chemicals can soak in and turn the blue greenish over time.
- Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Use mild soap only if needed, then dry right away.
- Never use ultrasonic cleaners, steam, or harsh chemicals.
- Avoid long soaks in water and long hours in direct sun or heat.
- Store it separately in a soft pouch or lined box so harder stones cannot scratch it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sleeping Beauty mine still open?
The mine stopped producing turquoise in August 2012 and switched to copper only. No new Sleeping Beauty turquoise has been mined since, so all genuine material on the market is pre-2012 stock.
Why is Sleeping Beauty turquoise so expensive?
Because the supply is fixed. Its prized even blue, near absence of matrix, and natural hardness made it the benchmark for American turquoise, and since 2012 no new material has entered the market while demand has continued.
What colour is Sleeping Beauty turquoise?
A uniform light sky blue, often called robin's egg blue. Greener pieces exist but are uncommon.
Does Sleeping Beauty turquoise have matrix?
Very little. It is known for being almost matrix-free, though some rough shows small spots of pyrite or host rock.
Is Sleeping Beauty turquoise natural?
Yes. It is a natural mineral. Some stones are sold untreated and some are stabilized with resin; both are real turquoise, but a seller should disclose which.
How much is raw Sleeping Beauty turquoise worth?
Rough is usually priced by the gram and varies with colour, hardness, and size. Our current natural pieces work out to roughly CA$20 to CA$40 per gram. See our Sleeping Beauty turquoise rough for exact weights and prices.
Can Sleeping Beauty turquoise get wet?
A quick splash is fine, but avoid swimming, bathing, or soaking in it. Water, soap residue, and chlorine can be absorbed and gradually change the colour.
Is Sleeping Beauty turquoise a good investment?
We can't promise future prices, but it has a closed source, an established reputation, and a long record of rising value. Natural, untreated, well-documented pieces have historically held value best.
What chakra is Sleeping Beauty turquoise for?
Traditionally the throat chakra, associated with communication, truth, and self-expression.
Shop genuine Sleeping Beauty turquoise
At Crysmology we offer natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise rough from an old Arizona collection, with every piece measured, weighed, and photographed so you receive the exact stone you choose. We ship across Canada and to the United States.
- Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Rough — Rare Arizona Lapidary Material (five pieces, 13 g to 36 g)
- Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Rough — Arizona Collector Cabochon Stone (four pieces, 11 g to 38 g)
