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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 16, 2009 11:05:44 GMT -5
i had bought some turquoise from a lady, beautiful color and all but i kept looking at it thinking it wasn't real......... Thank god i didn't pay much for it beause when we ground a piece heres what was inside..... a chalky lighter colored rock. grrrr hopefully i can find someone who can use it for something, at a good price.. Buyer beware as they say. mary ann
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Post by Toad on Nov 16, 2009 11:21:17 GMT -5
Howlite is often dyed to look like turquoise.
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Post by roswelljero on Nov 16, 2009 11:41:29 GMT -5
My thoughts exactly.
Later, jeri
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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 16, 2009 11:53:13 GMT -5
yes that true, but they also dye a pale turquoise and some other rocks, its ok i didn't pay much for it. I hope to find someone who can use it
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Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 16, 2009 13:47:54 GMT -5
Almost all of the "affordable" turquoise available is simply Howlite (porous white rock) that has been dyed. Actually, I have necver seen a real pice of turquoise, but I hear it's nice.
If it's too good to be true ... it probably isn't! Buyer beware. You can get a pound of Howelite for $3 to $4 per pound. Real turquuoise is probably sold by the gram?
There may be a non-destrcutive test to determine if the turquoise is real, but your approach definately works.
Darryl.
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Post by Woodyrock on Nov 16, 2009 15:05:09 GMT -5
Mary Ann: Whilst I really know little about turquoise...enough to get me in trouble, when you have a batch that is ALL the same colour, and shade it is almost always dyed howlite. When the real material is dyed, you will still have a lot of variation in both colour, and density of colour. Glad to see that you payed little for it. Woody
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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 17, 2009 15:48:53 GMT -5
ya i did, maybe $5 thats all....... i have real turquoise in another thread.
mary ann
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,314
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Post by mossyrockhound on Nov 19, 2009 22:56:02 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this. That's the first time I've seen little howlite nuggets dyed to look like turquoise. Now I'm going to start grinding each turquoise nugget I have. I also have some dyed howlite cabs, but I knew it ahead of time. They actually look pretty good, just like your nuggets. Just out of curiosity, I wonder how you can tell if it is howlite or just light, chalky turquoise. I suppose it doesn't make any difference since they would both be fake.
Garry
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 20, 2009 13:15:54 GMT -5
Maryann: As much as I love blue and the Southwest, I have never been a turqoiuse fan, probably becuase of bad settings I have seen over the years. One of those rocks to be wary of when purchasing!!!! Good info for people who like it.
Toad-Decmber's birthstone is Blue Zircon, I had it put in my ex's wedding ring, Tony is also a Dec b-day so maybe he will be getting it reworked, LOL
You would think I would learn to stay away from Sagitarrius men!!!!
Amber
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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 20, 2009 13:57:23 GMT -5
that was the main reason i put the pics up here, is to show everyone how it can look real, and not be. I'm not too big on turquoise either. Inside is a chalky material, it might be a low grade of turquoise, not sure if its howlite. Like you say, no matter.....its still not real. Back in the day, you would see macaroni dyed the turquoise color also, but if you threaten the person you were buying if from that you were gonna take a lighter to it,or a hot needle. they would fess up....
mary ann
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