Turquoise, the fallen Sky stone

Turquoise, the "fallen skystone," a gem often hailed as the "gem of the centuries," holds a place of profound significance in cultures across the globe. Indigenous to the Americas, Egypt, ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), Tibet, and China, this captivating stone has been cherished throughout human history for its mesmerizing beauty and its reputed ability to enhance one’s spiritual well-being. Today, Native American Turquoise Jewelry continues to be exceptionally popular, a testament to the stone’s enduring allure.

The captivating beauty of Turquoise is showcased in a diverse array of colors and matrices, a direct result of the unique geological conditions in which it forms. These variations have led to the distinct marketing of Turquoise from various mines, each bearing its own name and characteristics. Some notable examples of Turquoise mines include:

• Carico Lake: Known for its vibrant lime green to sky blue hues, often with a striking spiderweb matrix.
• Kingman: A classic American Turquoise, typically exhibiting a bright, clear blue color, sometimes with pyrite inclusions.
• Pilot Mountain: Displays a range of blues and greens, often with a distinctive brown or reddish-brown matrix.
• Royston: Famous for its beautiful color variations, ranging from deep blues to vibrant greens, often with intricate matrix patterns.
• No. 8: A highly sought-after Turquoise, known for its deep, rich blue color and a distinctive black spiderweb matrix.
• Candelaria: Produces a variety of blue shades, often with a mottled or blotchy matrix.
• Fox: A Nevada mine that yields a range of green and blue Turquoise, frequently with a light-colored matrix.
• Blue Gem: Celebrated for its intense, vibrant blue color and a fine-grained texture.
• Lone Mountain: Highly prized for its deep, clear blue color and a distinctive spiderweb matrix.
• Orvil Jack: Known for its unique lime green to yellow-green color, often with a striking black matrix.
• Cerrillos: One of the oldest Turquoise mines in North America, producing a range of colors, including blues, greens, and yellows, often with a distinctive matrix.
• Morenci: Characterized by its deep blue color and the presence of pyrite inclusions, giving it a sparkling appearance.
• Sleeping Beauty: A popular Turquoise known for its consistent, clear blue color and minimal matrix.
• Bisbee: A highly collectible Turquoise, distinguished by its deep, rich blue color and a distinctive chocolate brown matrix.

Ancient Origins and Cultural Significance

The allure of Turquoise extends far back into antiquity. Archaeological evidence reveals its profound importance in ancient civilizations. One of the oldest known pieces of jewelry, a Turquoise bracelet, was discovered on the wrist of a 7000-year-old mummified Egyptian queen, a testament to its enduring value in royal adornment.

On the North American continent, the Cerrillos Turquoise mine, located south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, stands as the oldest mine of any kind, dating back at least 2000 years. Native American Pueblo peoples painstakingly extracted the precious stone from the earth, utilizing tools crafted from antlers and stone mauls, a true testament to their dedication and reverence for Turquoise.

To the Pueblos and the Navajos, Turquoise holds a sacred status. They believe its color is derived from the sky itself, symbolizing the supreme, life-giving, and healing power of the Creator. This deep spiritual connection underscores the profound importance of Turquoise in their cultural traditions.

The Evolution of Turquoise Jewelry

Initially, the indigenous peoples of the Southwest skillfully carved Turquoise into beads or animal fetishes. They also employed it as an overlay on wood, bone, or shell, utilizing natural adhesives such as beeswax or piñon pine pitch. The arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century brought with it the technology of silver mining, smelting, and smithing. This new knowledge was embraced by the Native Americans, who masterfully combined silver with Turquoise, giving rise to a thriving industry of exquisite jewelry.

The fusion of silver and Turquoise has resulted in jewelry that is celebrated worldwide for its artistic beauty and cultural significance. Turquoise is recognized as New Mexico’s state gemstone and is also designated as the birthstone for December. Its name has an interesting origin, derived from the French who referred to it as the "turkey stone," unaware that the stone was originally mined in Persia and later traded to them by Turkish merchants.

Today, celebrities often adorn themselves with this treasured stone, gracing the pages of fashion magazines and appearing on television screens. This widespread exposure has fueled a renewed interest in Turquoise, reminiscent of the craze that swept through the sixties and early seventies.

Geological Formation and Global Deposits

Turquoise typically forms in arid climates, where specific geological conditions favor its creation. As a result, significant deposits of Turquoise have been discovered in the southwestern United States, China, Iran, Chile, and Mexico. The unique characteristics of Turquoise from each region have led to the establishment of distinct mines, each known by its own name.

China and Tibet possess vast Turquoise mines, accounting for approximately 80% of the Turquoise available on the global market today. A particularly popular variety consists of chunky blue-green nuggets with a distinctive dark spiderweb matrix, mined in the mountains north of Bhutan, within the former territory of Tibet. Northwest of Shanghai lies the Ma’anshan Turquoise mine, while the Hubei Province produces Turquoise with colors reminiscent of the highly prized blues and greens of the now-closed mines in Nevada.

The remaining 20% of the Turquoise market is primarily supplied by American mines, with the Sleeping Beauty and Kingman mines being the primary sources. Other American mines, once prolific producers, now yield very little or no Turquoise. However, stones from these highly collectible but depleted mines occasionally surface in the market from private collections.

Navigating the Turquoise Market: A Buyer’s Guide

When venturing into the world of Turquoise jewelry, it is essential to acquire some basic knowledge to make informed choices that align with your artistic preferences and financial considerations. Turquoise (hydrous cupric aluminum phosphate) is a porous stone that forms through a complex and not fully understood process.

Essentially, water gradually percolates through a host rock, interacting with copper, iron, and aluminum under specific and rare conditions over extended periods of time, spanning thousands or even millions of years. This process yields Turquoise of varying hardness, exhibiting a wide spectrum of colors, ranging from deep green and yellow-green to vibrant bright blue and delicate light blue. Furthermore, the inclusion of fragments of the host rock or other minerals within the Turquoise can create striking patterns of black, brown, and other colors, known as the matrix.

The rarity of this formation process is such that diamond formation is comparatively common.

Understanding the "Kinds" of Turquoise

To navigate the Turquoise market effectively, it is important to understand the various classifications of Turquoise, as defined by industry standards:

• Natural Turquoise: This refers to Turquoise that is naturally hard and beautiful, requiring only mining, cutting, and polishing before being set into jewelry or carved into fetishes or sculptures. Natural Turquoise accounts for less than 3% of the Turquoise available worldwide.

• Stabilized Turquoise: Soft or "chalky" Turquoise undergoes a stabilization process, in which it is infused with a clear epoxy resin. The resin, under pressure, permeates the rock, permanently hardening it and enhancing its color. Unlike natural Turquoise, which deepens in color over time as it absorbs oils from the skin, the colors in stabilized Turquoise remain permanent. Stabilized Turquoise is widely available and generally more affordable than natural Turquoise.

• Treated Turquoise: This involves stabilizing soft or "chalky" Turquoise as described above, but with the addition of dye to the epoxy resin. The colors in treated Turquoise often appear artificial. Consequently, treated Turquoise should be priced lower than natural or stabilized Turquoise.

• Reconstituted Turquoise: This category encompasses very low-grade "chalky" Turquoise that has been ground into powder, saturated with epoxy resin, dyed, and compressed into blocks or cakes. These blocks are then cut into shapes for jewelry making. Reconstituted Turquoise is typically the most inexpensive option.

• Imitation Turquoise: This category includes materials that are not genuine Turquoise. It may consist of stones like howlite (a white, porous stone) dyed to resemble Turquoise, or it may be entirely composed of plastic (epoxy resin) that has been dyed to mimic the appearance of Turquoise. Unfortunately, these imitation materials are sometimes set in silver and priced as if they possessed intrinsic value.

Trust and Transparency in Turquoise Purchases

Unfortunately, treated, reconstituted, and imitation Turquoise can be crafted to closely resemble collectible stones. This underscores the importance of trust and transparency when purchasing Turquoise jewelry.

It is crucial to ensure that the seller provides a guarantee, in writing, that the jewelry is accurately represented, including a signature on the sales document bearing the store’s name. The description should be comprehensive and accurate. Additionally, it is advisable to patronize businesses that offer refunds, regardless of whether the item was purchased on sale or not.

By exercising caution and seeking reputable sellers, enthusiasts of the "fallen skystone" can confidently acquire beautiful and authentic Turquoise jewelry that will be cherished for years to come.