Turquoise is one of my favorite stones ( is there really such a thing , they are all so fun) . It is a beautiful stone in shades from light greens to dark blue. It is a secondary mineral found near copper veins with the chemical formula of CuAl6 ( PO4) 4 (OH) 8 - 4 ( H2O) It has a hardness of 5-6 between apatite and orthoclase. Turquoise was named afer it's origal source in Turkey as it traveled back to Europe.
Turquoise can also be a challenge to purchase as there are many choices, and not all are genuine turquoise. 95 % of genuine turquoise is stablelized to enhance the hardness of the stone. Only 5 % of turquoise is what we would call natural where it is mined , tumbled and ready to use for jewelry. This type of turquoise is fairly expensive and can be hundreds of dollars for a strand. There is plenty of stablelized genuine turquoise that has had a plastic resin to enhance the hardness for long wear. Even with stablelization, turquoise can change color over time from lotions, body oils and other chemicals it contacts. Turquoise is mined in the USA ( Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico) China, Peru, Mexico, Iran, Tibet, Siberia, Australia, Africa,and Europe ( Turkey) . The stone forms when water passes thru Copper and other minerals to form the blue colored stone. Some turquoise has been dyed as well as stablelized.
There are the turquoise substitutes, howelite, magnesite, and dolomite which are white stones with a natural dark matrix that absorb dyes well to give the appearence of turquoise.
African turquoise is a nice stone but is a jasper by origin and not a genuine turquoise stone
Chinese turquoise from the Hubei and Anhui areas are stablelized with a parrafin wax treatment that only affects the outter layers. Other treatments can also include dyeing.
Simulated Block turquoise has small bits of rock , dyes and plastic resin. Block turquoise has no rock , it is only plastic and dyes and is made in large loaf size batches.
Lime turquoise is a magnesite from China that has been dyed green, it is harder than the natural turquoise from the Hubei mines.
Mexican Turquoise is similar to that found in Arizona in the Globe mine. Sonora is home to the Pino Chueco mine, this turquoise has been stablelized and some is sold under the Nazcori name.
Mojave or Apple Green turquoise is blue turquoise that is dyed a vibrant Apple green, it can be scraps of turquoise that is bound in resin and dyed.
Yellow turquoise is usually a hard howlite or jasper that has been dyed , from China , Soft yellow turquoise from China's Hubei province has been stablelized and dyed a deep yellow
When selecting a stone , of course find stones that appeal to your taste, but try to get as much information about the origin and processing so you can accurately label your product for resale. Genuine turquoise dealers will give you a certificate in writing stating the value of your purchase.
Metaphysical properties: Turquoise is the stone of the Shaman, it opens all chakras, and allows us to feel at home in both the spiritual and physical worlds, it increases the flow of love and comunication, it opens particularly the 5th or throat chakra and aids with opening the 4th chakra ( heart). It helps with improving the immune system and will detox poisons , alcohol , and radiation.
Enjoy your life ! Enhance it with wearable art! More Later , Laura
You can find my designs at :
http://www.mountaindreamers.etsy.com/
http://www.mountaindreamers.1000markets.com/
http://www.mountaindreamers.artfire.com/
http://icraft.ca/mountaindreamers
Turquoise can also be a challenge to purchase as there are many choices, and not all are genuine turquoise. 95 % of genuine turquoise is stablelized to enhance the hardness of the stone. Only 5 % of turquoise is what we would call natural where it is mined , tumbled and ready to use for jewelry. This type of turquoise is fairly expensive and can be hundreds of dollars for a strand. There is plenty of stablelized genuine turquoise that has had a plastic resin to enhance the hardness for long wear. Even with stablelization, turquoise can change color over time from lotions, body oils and other chemicals it contacts. Turquoise is mined in the USA ( Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico) China, Peru, Mexico, Iran, Tibet, Siberia, Australia, Africa,and Europe ( Turkey) . The stone forms when water passes thru Copper and other minerals to form the blue colored stone. Some turquoise has been dyed as well as stablelized.
There are the turquoise substitutes, howelite, magnesite, and dolomite which are white stones with a natural dark matrix that absorb dyes well to give the appearence of turquoise.
African turquoise is a nice stone but is a jasper by origin and not a genuine turquoise stone
Chinese turquoise from the Hubei and Anhui areas are stablelized with a parrafin wax treatment that only affects the outter layers. Other treatments can also include dyeing.
Simulated Block turquoise has small bits of rock , dyes and plastic resin. Block turquoise has no rock , it is only plastic and dyes and is made in large loaf size batches.
Lime turquoise is a magnesite from China that has been dyed green, it is harder than the natural turquoise from the Hubei mines.
Mexican Turquoise is similar to that found in Arizona in the Globe mine. Sonora is home to the Pino Chueco mine, this turquoise has been stablelized and some is sold under the Nazcori name.
Mojave or Apple Green turquoise is blue turquoise that is dyed a vibrant Apple green, it can be scraps of turquoise that is bound in resin and dyed.
Yellow turquoise is usually a hard howlite or jasper that has been dyed , from China , Soft yellow turquoise from China's Hubei province has been stablelized and dyed a deep yellow
When selecting a stone , of course find stones that appeal to your taste, but try to get as much information about the origin and processing so you can accurately label your product for resale. Genuine turquoise dealers will give you a certificate in writing stating the value of your purchase.
Metaphysical properties: Turquoise is the stone of the Shaman, it opens all chakras, and allows us to feel at home in both the spiritual and physical worlds, it increases the flow of love and comunication, it opens particularly the 5th or throat chakra and aids with opening the 4th chakra ( heart). It helps with improving the immune system and will detox poisons , alcohol , and radiation.
Enjoy your life ! Enhance it with wearable art! More Later , Laura
You can find my designs at :
http://www.mountaindreamers.etsy.com/
http://www.mountaindreamers.1000markets.com/
http://www.mountaindreamers.artfire.com/
http://icraft.ca/mountaindreamers
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I just read your turquoise post - I had no idea there were so many different kinds! I never really thought about where it came from either so it was interesting to read how it forms.
This is a very educational and interesting post!