![]() ![]() The volcanic and plutonic rocks of the arc can be divided into three groups (Spies et al., 1984), including Eocene intermediate igneous rocks, Oligocene acidic igneous rocks, and Miocene-Pleistocene alkaline basalts. Magmatic activities started there during the Cretaceous, peaking during the Eocene (40 Ma) and then continuing into the Plio-Pleistocene (2 Ma). This arc in northeastern Iran indicates a complex tectonic-magmatic evolution and is characterized by extensive magmatic activity with a range of geochemical signatures. The Neyshabur turquoise mine is located at the far east end of the Quchan-Sabzevar magmatic arc (figure 3B). The closest possible source is at least 900 km away. It should be noted that turquoise has not been known to occur in the Mohamad-Djaffar zone, which is part of the Ali Kosh historical site (figure 3A). C: Geological map of the Neyshabur mine, 1:10000 scale (Ghiasvand et al., 2017). B: The Quchan-Sabzevar magmatic belt (Eshbak et al., 2019). A: Locations of Iran’s main turquoise mines. This article seeks to uncover the facts and offer objective insight on the current state of the Neyshabur turquoise mine.įigure 3. After visiting the Neyshabur turquoise mine in 2020, a report was conducted on the current state of the mine. Such claims often carry enormous weight with consumers. Yet in recent decades there have been claims that the mine is on the verge of closure, that its turquoise quality has diminished, or that it is running out of material. Located in the Razavi Khorasan Province of northeastern Iran, 53 km from the city of Neyshabur, the Neyshabur mine has produced the majority of Iranian turquoise for more than a millennium. Other important mines include the Baghu deposit in southern Semnan Province and the Shahr-i Babak deposit in western Kerman Province, the latter of which was mentioned in Marco Polo’s Book of the Wonders of the World between 13 (Weisgerber, 2004). ![]() This production has historically been known as “Persian turquoise” (figure 1), yet Iran’s turquoise deposits were never limited to Neyshabur. The Neyshabur (Latinized as Nishapour) deposit is known for yielding turquoise with unique color and quality. While the estimated age of these artifacts is valid, no scientific study has linked them to any specific deposit. The quantity of turquoise artifacts discovered in burial sites suggests the importance of this mineral in this ancient civilization’s traditions. In Persian literature, turquoise has been celebrated by poets, and various legends and beliefs are associated with it (Vinogradov et al., 1966).Īrcheological discoveries from the Deh Luran Plain in western Iran indicate that turquoise was first utilized around 7000 BCE (Hole et al., 1969). Originally called piruzeh in Persian, the gem has spiritual value in Persian culture is such that its name carries the meanings of victory, triumph, and prosperity. Turquoise is an opaque, blue to green gem material that has been worn, used, and appreciated by different civilizations for thousands of years. This gold ring with a phoenix motif features a Neyshabur turquoise (13 × 17 mm), with a 0.02 ct ruby on each side and diamond accents. Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificateįigure 1. ![]()
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