Turquoise runs the chemical formula to variscite which is green. Variscite is not turquise, but it is in a group of similar minerals by chemical formulation
I have promised to post more on the subject of Turquoise. However,
when I started to write, I realized that it is going to be the
longest email ever published, so instead I put it in the blog form.
Here is the link
http://leonidsurpin.ganoksin.com/blogs/2009/10/19/
Leonid Surpin
Teresa,
You’re probably better off stabilizing it yourself. Most turquoise
processors have a 20 lb minimum. There is the old standby
epoxy/acetone method that will work on nuggets up to 1.5 inches.
First thing put your stone in the overnight on the lowest
temperature. Then if you have a way to put the stone under vacuum to
get the last bit of water out. You want to make the stone as
“thirsty” as you can. Be sure to let the stone cool before adding
the acetone. Acetone has a very low boiling point and you’ll get an
acetone volcano if you pour it on hot stone. Don’t ask. I just know.
Fortunately I didn’t get any in my eyes…
The mixture is both 1 ounce tubes of two part epoxy to 1 pint of
acetone. This is not a hard set formula. I use a 1 quart jar, fill it
with the stone to be stabilized, fill with acetone, then pour acetone
into a mixing jar and add both tubes of epoxy and shake to mix. Pour
back into the jar with the stones and leave it sit a month. Some say
a week is enough I usually go a month any longer and you get surface
yellowing. Shake the jar daily just to keep things mixed up.
There is also a formula out there on the web somewhere that uses
waterglass (sodium silicate) and emergen-C capsules to permanently
silicate porous stone. I haven’t tried that yet.
Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
rockymountainwonders.com
Mr Leonid Surpin,
As a young man I was an acquaintance of a very fine Jeweler. In his
shop he had one large case dedicated to Turquoise and silver jewelry.
I remember the most expensive pieces were a pure deep blue sky color
with no blemishes or matrix in them. I purchased a ring that had a
small stone and two small coral stones. It was all I could afford at
time. Later in life I became friends with a gentleman I worked with
and new only as Chief. He made Turquoise and silver jewelry. I bought
a large ring from him and he indicated it was sleeping beauty that
had been passed on to him from relatives who obtained it from the
early days of the mine. He also pointed out that it was not pure of
heart because of the matrix and it had been purified by a ceremony to
remove any bad spirits. Reading your blog post help me to better
understand the differences in the many items of turquoise out there.
Before reading your blog I always thought the best to be pure in
color, now I know why. Keep up the good work. Many of us are learning
from your experience.
Rick McC
Leonid,
Oh, it never occurred to me you were talking about Precious
Turquoise and not Turquoise. lol.
TL Goodwin
Lapidary/Jewelry Artist