Sonoran Turquoise comes from northern Sonora, Mexico, just south of the Arizona border. Much of it is found as individual nuggets within clay rather than in the hard-rock veins normally associated with turquoise.

The stone can range from soft blue to vivid blue-green and deep green, often with brown, black, or golden matrix. Some pieces also contain pyrite, which creates small metallic flecks or more noticeable golden markings.

The Colors of Sonoran Turquoise

Copper gives turquoise its blue coloring, while iron can shift the color toward green. These differences help create the three Sonoran varieties.

Sonoran Blue

Sonoran Blue has a softer, more pastel appearance. It usually contains subtle touches of green and a delicate matrix rather than the solid, even blue associated with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.

Sonoran Gold

Sonoran Gold has deeper blue-green and green coloring with golden-brown matrix. Some stones contain several shades of blue and green along with areas of pyrite.

Sonoran Rose

Despite its name, Sonoran Rose is not pink. It has a rich, vibrant blue color with little to no green. Its stronger copper influence and lower iron influence give it a deeper blue appearance.

What About Palomino?

Palomino comes from the same general mining region and is sometimes sold as “Palomino Turquoise.” However, Palomino is actually variscite, a different mineral.

Its pale green, cream, yellow-green, and golden coloring can make it look closely related to Sonoran Turquoise. Although it isn’t turquoise, Palomino is a distinctive and relatively rare stone in its own right.

Why I’m Drawn to Sonoran Turquoise

I’m drawn to Sonoran Turquoise because of its range of colors and the unexpected pyrite found in some stones. I especially love the contrast of those golden flecks against the blues and greens.

The color, matrix, and pyrite usually guide the direction of my design. Each stone gives me something different to work with, and I want the silver to frame those natural details rather than cover them.

If you’d like to see the Sonoran Turquoise jewelry I’ve created, you can explore the collection below.