The materials used by carvers were typically indigenous to their home region.   However, as trade became popular among various tribes, and even across country boarders (what we consider to be country boarders today) the carvers would trade for materials not available in their pueblo.
The most important material used for carving was turquoise (similar to the popularity of turquoise found in turquoise jewelry), which is considered by the Zuni to be the sacred stone. Jet, shell (primarily mother-of-pearl), and coral are also frequently used. These materials and their associated colors are principle in the Zuni sunface, a cultural symbol which is present in Zuni jewelry and fetishes and represents their sun father. Other materials used to make Zuni fetishes are Zuni rock (rock found on the Zuni pueblo in New Mexico), fishrock, jasper, pipestone, marble, or organic items such as bone and deer or elk antler.