Turquoise mines have been a significant source of the opaque, blue-green gemstone that several civilizations have cherished and worn for thousands of years. Originally known as “Piruzah” in Persian, the gem’s name carries connotations of victory, triumph, and prosperity, speaking to the deep cultural and spiritual significance placed on turquoise in Persian history. Persian poets have extolled turquoise in literature, and many legends centre around the striking blue stone. Archaeological findings in western Iran’s Deh Luran Plain suggest turquoise use as early as 7000 BCE, with an abundance of turquoise artifacts found in burial sites pointing to the role of the mineral in this ancient civilisation’s rituals.

The Nishapur (also spelled Neyshabur) mine in northeast Iran became renowned for yielding turquoise of unparalleled quality in a vibrant robin’s egg blue, thus gaining the moniker of “Persian turquoise.” However, Iran’s turquoise reserves extend beyond Nishapur, with the turquoise mine of Baghu in southern Semnan Province and the Shahr-e Babak deposit in western Kerman Province also representing major production sites. The latter mine was even noted between 1390 and 1430 in Marco Polo’s Book of the Wonders of the World. Situated around 53 kilometres from the city of Nishapur in Razavi Khorasan Province, the Nishapur turquoise mines have supplied the majority of Iranian turquoise for over a millennium.

The Geological of the Nishapur Turquoise Mine

The renowned turquoise mine of Nishapur lies at the far eastern end of the Quchan-Sabzevar mantle convection arc in northeastern Iran. This volcanic belt boasts a complex tectonic and magmatic evolution, having faced extensive eruptive activity and producing rocks with varied geochemical signatures over time. Magmatism, initiated in the Cretaceous period, intensified through the Eocene and persisted into the Plio-Pleistocene era. The arc’s volcanic and plutonic rocks are classified as Oligocene acidic igneous rocks, Eocene intermediate igneous rocks, and Miocene-Pleistocene alkaline basalts.

The central rock units of the Nishapur mine itself are hydrothermal breccia intrusions, subvolcanic bodies, and volcanic rocks. While trachyte and andesite constitute the predominant volcanic rocks, subvolcanic infringements like monzodiorite and monzosyenite also poke through the mine. Magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, specularite, and bornite are among the key minerals in the volcanic and subvolcanic strata. Meanwhile, chalcocite, the famed turquoise deposits, covellite, hematite, and goethite represent secondary minerals. After passing through various ownership structures, the Nishapur turquoise mine transformed into a cooperative in 2003. Today, it operates under local shareholders – residents of the nearby villages Olia and Sofla – who either work in the mine themselves or run turquoise cutting/selling businesses.

No Cost Too Great: Hazards in Turquoise Mines

The Nishapur turquoise mine sits within the Raish Mountain, which has endured millennia of turquoise mining activity. Typically, when a vein was exposed on the exterior mountainside, it would be followed underground through either strip mining or short tunnelling if deemed worthwhile. More intensive deep-vein mining also occurred in centuries past despite the immense difficulty and hazards – unlike silver and gold, turquoise was cherished enough in Persian culture to justify such extensive subterranean extraction. After locating a promising site, miners burrowed extensive horizontal shafts and tunnels into the mountain to trace and extract the turquoise veins, with underground galleries widened around ore deposits. Occasionally, horizontal adits were driven from the hillsides as alternate entry points.

Working underground in such cramped, dark spaces posed many problems for miners, including a lack of ventilation and lighting. Some ancient mines remain intact, while others have collapsed over time. The present-day Nishapur mine contains three active tunnels named Main, Dom and Zahk, each representing the legacy of arduous turquoise mining through the Raish Mountain over thousands of years. The hazards miners face

and the treasured nature of turquoise deemed to justify such efforts reflect the high standing of turquoise in Persian history and culture.

The Main Tunnel of Nishapur Turquoise Mine

Within the Main tunnel of the Nishapur turquoise mine, the four major active branches are Ardalani, Chah Abdar, Rokub, and Sabz. The first crosscut from the main tunnel leads directly to the central 80-meter-deep mine shaft, equipped with a hoist system for ventilation and material transport. The shaft lateralises to 11 underlying levels, spaced periodically, with further horizontal tunnels driven towards the turquoise-bearing seams. The deepest level hosts the Chah Abdar tunnel, where groundwater has intruded into the mine. Reaching Chah Abdar involves traversing a series of downward stairways, ramps, and winzes branching off from the main vertical shaft. This complex underground infrastructure speaks to the extraordinary efforts to extract beautiful turquoise from the mountain’s depths.

The Dom Tunnel at Nishapur Turquoise Mine

The Dom tunnel gets its name from the Persian abbreviation for “Dovom,” meaning second, denoting its status as the mine’s secondary tunnel. Situated 70 meters above the Main tunnel, the Dom tunnel contains nine tiers above and three levels below its entrance, as illustrated. While containing the same geological units as the Main tunnel, the Dom tunnel features more abundant volcanic rocks, especially andesite. It also harbours highly altered subvolcanic intrusive bodies. Thick turquoise veins occupy the walls, but the tunnel’s upper tiers showcase an eye-catching diversity of varied turquoise shades appearing together. The uniqueness of the Dom tunnel highlights how the Nishapur mine presents surprises even for experienced miners, with beautiful turquoise deposits found in unexpected corners underground.

The Zahk Tunnel at Nishapur Turquoise Mine

Situated almost 100 meters above the Main tunnel on the northeast end of the mine, the Zahk tunnel contains the deepest turquoise veins within the entire Nishapur complex. The upper tiers of the Zahk are specifically renowned for fine turquoise veins ranging from 1-2 cm thick and occasionally up to 4 cm. Currently, the Zahk tunnel is appraised as twice as lucrative compared to the other tunnels. An intriguing colour variation can also be observed – the lower Zahk yields deeper blue hues, while vibrant green-blue and robin’s egg blue turquoise becomes more prevalent in the upper Zahk. This colour zonation speaks to the complex geological processes forming the spectacular turquoise seams snaking through the mountain.

Own Your Persian Turquoise

After exploring the storied history and mesmerising geology of Iran’s fabled turquoise mines, you may be tempted to acquire your piece of this glittering Persian treasure. At Amitisart, we offer an unparalleled selection of genuine Persian turquoise jewellery – from lustrous turquoise rings and pendants to intricate bracelets and earrings. Browse our online store to discover the perfect addition to your jewellery box from Nishapur’s sublime gemstones today.

Turquoise Uncovered Podcast

We are excited to offer an alternative way to experience our blog posts. If you prefer listening over reading, you can access an audio version of our blog posts on the Turquoise Uncovered Podcast.

Author: Sohrab Jamarani

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