The Villa Grove Turquoise Mine
In 2023 a Lode mining claim was filed on the historic Villa Grove Turquoise Mine named VG234
I am 1 of 4 of the owners of the claim
The names of all the co-claimants are available on the MLRS BLM website as public knowledge
Randy Christensen owns the 20 acre private patented mine claim to the northeast of the VG234 claim
Turquoise is a difficult mineral to mine and this location at 9500 ft. adds to the fun factor
The picture includes Randy’s trommel; that has been removed in 2023
Legacy / History / Future
This is the oldest document available for the patented claim owned by Randy Christensen.
The document represents the location of private patented land from 1903 originally owned by David G. Weems
The mine has a history of producing copper before the turquoise in the industrial age, but stories of Indian / Native American peoples precede this in the time we have kept records for this mineral rich hillside.
Along with the turquoise nuggets veins and lodes; their also occurs other interesting minerals. Wavellite is the next most noteable. Phyrite, Galena, Chalcophyrite, and more occur in lesser amounts.
The photo includes Wavellite on the lower left as pale green/gray rays from the blue turquoise nuggets with phyrite as black specks middle right and left. Botryoidal white orange Wavellite; throughout the right side cab with pale turquoise intermingled.
Small chips and nuggets occur most often
Mineral specimens of turquoise and wavellite are a suprise
Rare cut-able pieces of vein and nuggets are a not common
