Post by adam on Jan 19, 2017 16:36:44 GMT -5
I'm just gonna show ya'll some photos and let you be the judge.
The following pictures depict what I believe to be turquoise. The three stones you see in these pictures all came from the same stone that I broke apart because I deemed the stone would be better off that way so that I can tumble them some. The stones are definitely soft, 5 or 6 on moh's scale.
No need for a scratch test...
This article gives some useful info. www.turquoisefacts.com/turquoise-mines/Californiaturquoisemines.htm
The only turquoise mine in California that commercially produces turquoise is the Apache Canyon mine. The author describes the turquoise from San Bernardino, Imperial, and Inyo counties as "a light robin's egg blue with a golden yellow open web or "island like" matrix". There are turquoise deposits in the Chocolate Mountains. Problem is, a good portion of the mountains are a naval gunnery range off limits to the public. I know a way around this. Simply scour the land in AND around the many natural washes that come from out of the Chocolate Mountains.
If it is what it is, I can probably find some more. Even if it is not A grade, I don't care, I just think the prospect of finding turquoise is thrilling and fun and adventurous on its own. I probably just got lucky. I know the risks of being in a violent, hot desert, I am aware of the danger associated with isolating myself in the wastes, but I know not to roam to far, as long as I have plenty of water and enough space to carry my loot back to base.
Wish me luck on my next trip to SoCal. Might be next month or the month after. We'll see shortly.
The following pictures depict what I believe to be turquoise. The three stones you see in these pictures all came from the same stone that I broke apart because I deemed the stone would be better off that way so that I can tumble them some. The stones are definitely soft, 5 or 6 on moh's scale.
No need for a scratch test...
This article gives some useful info. www.turquoisefacts.com/turquoise-mines/Californiaturquoisemines.htm
The only turquoise mine in California that commercially produces turquoise is the Apache Canyon mine. The author describes the turquoise from San Bernardino, Imperial, and Inyo counties as "a light robin's egg blue with a golden yellow open web or "island like" matrix". There are turquoise deposits in the Chocolate Mountains. Problem is, a good portion of the mountains are a naval gunnery range off limits to the public. I know a way around this. Simply scour the land in AND around the many natural washes that come from out of the Chocolate Mountains.
If it is what it is, I can probably find some more. Even if it is not A grade, I don't care, I just think the prospect of finding turquoise is thrilling and fun and adventurous on its own. I probably just got lucky. I know the risks of being in a violent, hot desert, I am aware of the danger associated with isolating myself in the wastes, but I know not to roam to far, as long as I have plenty of water and enough space to carry my loot back to base.
Wish me luck on my next trip to SoCal. Might be next month or the month after. We'll see shortly.