1960's sand cast bracelet with Morenci Turquoise

Circa 1960's Navajo handcrafted bracelet. Set in solid sterling silver using the method of sandcasting. The turquoise is a natural piece of Morenci from the mine in Arizona.The unique design is typical of the sandcasting method. It has comforting feel and is easy to wear. A true piece of Native American history Morenci Turquoise.

Stone:  Morenci Turquoise is mined in southeastern Arizona, in Greenlee County. It is light blue to high blue in color.Material coming out in the 1960’s seems to be harder, tending more to the blue greens, usually with the pyrite. In the 1970’s, the material was a much brighter blue, often with quartz along with the pyrite. Sandcast jewelry: The basis of this process is a mold made by carving the desired design into a stone. Sandcasting is a labor-intensive, hand process not to be mistaken with centrifugal and vacuum casting processes.