Meanwhile, North of the border, at the banking center of the southwest (around 1,000 AD), in Chaco Canyon, NM, chips of turquoise were the preferred currency. Turquoise is typically found on top of copper deposits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_Culture_National_Historical_Park
Steel > Iron > Bronze > Copper > Obsidian
its my theory that that whole culture from ariona to new mexico up to the border of Nevada utah and colorado was wiped out in the 1300-1400 or about 100-200 years before Cortez. That’s known. Its also known that they all disappeared at once. What’s not known is who or what did them in.
My guess is that it was aztec raiders from south of the border. Especially if aztec obsidian was found in chaco canyon