RARE McGuinness Turquoise (Nevada) 5mm Rondelle Beads, 6 Inch Strand/46 Beads
The McGuinness turquoise mine is located at an elevation of about 7700 ft at in the eastern foothills of the Toiyabe Range in central Nevada. It has also been known as the Gem, or McGuinness Gem. The location is roughly about 200 miles east of Reno and about 10 Miles NE of Austin. Cold weather and snow at this high elevation make the property inaccessible for about 4 to 5 months of the year. Turquoise was first found in this area in 1930. After the initial discovery, the property was purchased worked periodically on a small scale by Mr. George McGuinness of Oakland, CA during the 1930s and 1940s. The mine takes its name from him, and most of the workings at that time were underground with a few small surface pits.
