n a word, none.

Well, mostly none, anyway. Traditionally, rocks and minerals used to make silver jewelry are referred to as semi-precious stones, while those paired with gold are referred to as precious or gem stones. And once upon a time, that was a pretty good system. Now, however, stones like tanzanite and sapphire are paired as often with silver as they are with gold, and stones like turquoise and tourmaline are becoming increasingly scarce, making good, quality specimens more expensive. Handcrafted Jewelry uses the term "semi-precious" to refer to those stones not traditionally considered gems by the general public. Some examples of traditional gemstones are ruby, emerald, diamond and sapphire. Aside from those - and maybe a few others - there would seem to be no clear delineation separating categories of stones in the market today. Semi-precious stones are greatly valued for a number of reasons, ranging from their attractiveness to the healing or mystical powers attributed to them.

When you are shopping for semi-precious jewelry, it is important to note that stones are formed by natural processes. Due to this, each stone has a unique appearance and some flaws are inherent. Some are even what make a stone valuable. When you set out to buy anything with semi-precious stone, you should educate yourself a little before you buy. Ask the person you're buying from what that pretty green stone is, and if it matters to you, ask whether or not the stone has been treated and how. Most stones in today's market have at least been heat-treated or irradiated to deepen or otherwise change the color. Others, like most turquoise (and certainly the inexpensive and a great deal of the pricey stuff), has been dyed and filled with resin to "stabilize" it or sealed to prevent the stone from reacting to the oils in your skin and changing color. If turquoise has been stabilized or otherwise treated, the person selling it is under obligation to let you know; however, most do not volunteer the information, and some may not know. I recently purchased apple green turquoise which was supposed to have been untreated, but closer inspection in the good strong light of home revealed it had been dyed. For all I know, it's been sealed or stabilized, as well. Such is a risk you take. If it's important to you to buy only natural, untreated stones, it behooves you not only to ask, but to read up and educate yourself on the particular stone(s) you want before you shop or buy.

One last thing on shopping. If you choose to shop online, bear in mind that while most merchants strive to achieve accuracy in their images, no two stones or beads are alike unless they are manmade, so what you buy will not look exactly like it did in the merchant's image, unless you are buying the exact item pictured. Even then, monitor colors and settings vary, so while images may be accurate representations of the stones on the jewelry artist's monitor, he or she hasn't calibrated yours, so you may see something different. I am frequently amazed when photos I could see no schmutz in on my own monitor bear dark marks or smudges on my roommate's. If you ever have questions, email the seller and ask. And again, the time to do that is before you buy.

Below is a partial list of semi-precioius stones readily available today. In addition to the factual aspects of each, the metaphysical attributes are given; however, Handcrafted Jewelry makes no assertion as to the validity of these beliefs. The meanings for certain stones lie wholly in the practice and belief of the holder and are recounted here for merely for those who are interested in the historical uses of stones as talisman or jewelry. The list is always being added to, so check back from time to time.

african turquoise - Actually a form of jasper, african "turquoise" is completely unrelated to the stone it is often misrepresented as. A recent Google search turned up 9,630 sites selling african turquoise jasper jewelry, and of those, easily 90% or more misrepresented the stone as real turquoise. Conversely, a search for "african turquoise jasper" turned up a mere 2 pages, and of those, at least 2 sites were given for the proximity of the words "african turquoise" to the word jasper, not because the stone was fairly identified. This beautiful jasper is an acceptable substitute for actual turquoise if all you are concerned with is appearance, but the difference should certainly be reflected in the price; african "turquoise" is a much more plentiful stone and far less expensive than the real thing. A member of the quartz group, jasper ranges from 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it a somewhat sturdier rock than turquoise. Jasper can contain up to 20% foreign materials, and it is those that give it its mottled appearance and colors.

amazonite - Named for the Amazon river, this softly-colored opaque stone gets a 6 on the Mohs scale and is a member of the feldspar family. It's found mostly in varying pastel shades of blue-green, sometimes with white streaks, in Virginia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Australia, and Russia. Legend has it the Amazon women gave the stone to those who visited their tribe, and the stone is believed to be a balancing stone which holds the power to soothe nerves, dispel negative energy, promote clarity, and enhance communication, particularly that having to do with love.

amethyst - Amethyst is a variety of quartz and occurs naturally throughout the world. Its color ranges from almost clear, very light lavender to very dark purple. This translucent stone carries a hardness of 7 and has been widely favored in jewelry throughout history. The subject of Greek myth, amethyst has been treasured by Egyptian royalty, Catherine the Great, Buddhist monks, and the Catholic church and is featured prominently in the British Crown Jewels. It is mined primarily in South America and the African continent, as well as Australia, Siberia and Colorado, and is considered a spiritual stone, used to balance one's energies and to create stability, strength, and peace within the wearer.

ametrine - A 7.0 on the Mohs scale, ametrine is a combination of the translucent stones amethyst and citrine, ametrine ranges in color from yellow to purple or a combination of both. It was found almost solely in the Anahí mine, in eastern Bolivia, but that mine is reported to have "run dry," making ametrine a fairly expensive stone and hard to find. Believed to be a perfect stone, the metaphysical properties assigned to ametrine are those of amethyst and citrine, as well as its own qualities in dispersing negativity, enhancing intellect, and achieving higher consciousness and tranquility.

aquamarine - Named for the sea and long a popular and much sought-after stone, aquamarine is a translucent gem with a Mohs rating of 7.5 - 8. Its gorgeous blue colors are the result of trace amounts of iron and will fade if the stone is left in the sun. A form of beryl, the classically beautiful stone is mined in Brazil, India, Zambi, Mozambique, Angola, and Russia, and in the United States in Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont. Legend holds that aquamarine is treasured by mermaids and has the power to keep sailors safe at sea. It is the birthstone for March and is also believed by some to promote compassion and moderation, as well as to provide courage to the wearer. It should be noted that two substances often misrepresented as aquamarine are "Siam aquamarine," actually heat-treated blue zircon, and a blue glass called mass aqua. "Brazilian aquamarine" is actually blue topaz, and is discussed below.

aventurine - An unenhanced stone found in a wide variety of colors, aventurine is generally composed of quartz and mica, the latter giving a sheen to the stone which is known as aventurescence. Rated a 7.0 on the Mohs scale, in its most common, green, form, aventurine is often mistaken for jade; however, it is also found in green-brown, blue-green, blue-white, and orange, and in both translucent and the more common opaque forms. The color of sheen present in a piece of aventurine is decided by the mineral responsible. Mica gives the stone a gold or silvery shimmer, but other minerals give the appearance of green, red, or grayish glitter. Some feldspar also glistens with aventurescence and is called aventurine. Sunstone is one example and is rightfully labelled aventurine feldspar to distinguish it from true quartz aventurine. Practitioners of Wicca and crystal healing use aventurine to aid in achieving inner peace, to ground one's spirit, and to balance male/female energies. Green aventurine in particular is often used to shield and protect the heart chakra. Aventurine gets its name from the Italian a ventura, meaning "by chance," which is how it was discovered in the 18th century.

brazilian aquamarine - This translucent stone, very similar to aquamarine in color, is actually blue topaz, the birthstone for November, and the state gemstone of Texas. It carries a Mohs rating of 8, and despite its name, occurs in a variety of colors in addition to blue, including orange, green, pink, and red. Blue topaz is often irradiated to produce the shades of blue for which it draws its name, Sky Blue being the lightest and London Blue the darkest, with Swiss Blue falling between the two. One of the most widely used and popular gemstones, blue topaz occurs naturally across the globe and is found in Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Burma, Russia, Japan, Australia, Tasmania, Pakistan, Mexico, and the United States. It is believed to stimulate the throat chakra to enhance communication.

carnelian - Drawing its name from the Latin word carneolus - meaning "red stone" - carnelian derives it's rich pink, orange, and orange-red colors from iron, quite possibly the busiest bee in the mineral world. A form of chalcedony, carnelian is a translucent to opaque stone rated a 6.5 - 7.0 on the Mohs scale. It ranges in color from light orange to deep orange-red, but now and again can be found in mauve, with milky white veins. While the best carnelian comes from Indi,a and the stone is also produced in Australia, most of the carnelian on the market today is mined in South America. Because it separates easily from wax, carnelian was used for intaglio seals in ancient times and by both the Egyptians and in the Middle East as a stone of protection. In the present day, carnelian is still used at a stone of protection against negative energies from another person, as well as to cleanse negativity from other stones, provide inspiration, and especially in the pink form of the stone, as an offering of love. Carnelian is also believed to assist in the pursuit of theatrical presentation, making it an excellent gift or talisman for actors and actresses.

chalcedony

chrysoprase - The subject of Roumanian legend, chrysoprase is the rarest and most valuable form of chalcedony, often mistaken for Imperial Jade. It derives its color from nickel oxide and ranges from bright, translucent green to the key lime pie color and opacity of less-expensive lemon chrysoprase. Also called "Jadine" or "Australian Jade," most chrysoprase today is mined in Australia, though the stone is also found in Brazil, the Ural Mountains of Siberia, and near Visalia, California. It is rated a 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs scale. In the book of Revelations, chrysoprase is described as the stone used in the 10th wall of the city of Jerusalem, and it enjoyed popularity with the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used the stone to carve signet rings and seals. It graces the 14th century Wenzel Chapel, in Prague, and in 1745, Frederick the Great of Prussia was so enamored with the stone that he overmined it, leading to the eventual exhaustion of the stores located in Silesia and the increased rarity and price of the stone today. Frederick so loved chrysoprase's bright green that he had not one but two tables made of the stone and used it extensively in mosaics. Perhaps in part due to this royal favor, chrysoprase managed to maintain its popularity and again saw a resurgence of favor during the Victorian Era, when it was believed to offer spiritual protection and increase fertility. Today chrysoprase is often used to balance yin-yang energy, aid in the pursuit of perfection, prevent depression, and encourage fidelity.

citrine - A relative newcomer to the popular jewelry scene, this sunny golden form of quartz gets its name from citron, French for lemon, and usually began life as amethyst or smoky quartz. Though found most often with deposits of amethyst, citrine is fairly rare, usually found in very small amounts in large deposits of quartz. Translucent, it occurs naturally in pale shades from yellow to orange, but with heat, its color darkens to dark browns with tints of yellow, orange and red. Interestingly, while citrine which has been created from heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz has a reddish tinge, samples of the stone taken from the ground in its natural state do not. It is rated a 7.0 on the Mohs scale and found mostly in Brazil, with additional deposits located in Argentina, Madagascar, Burma, Namibia, Russia, Scotland, France, Spain and the United States. Throughout history, it has been carried to protect the bearer against evil thoughts, snakebite, and the plague, and as a “merchant stone,” useful for acquiring and maintaining wealth - a cluster or crystal of citrine placed in a cashbox is said to help produce more income. Practioners of the metaphysical arts believe citrine helps to dispel negative energy, clear the aura, stabilize one’s emotions, and encourage positive feelings and energy. Similar to topaz in color, citrine is much more affordable. It is one of the traditional and modern birthstones for November, a gift for the 13th and 17th anniversaries, and was one of Greta Garbo's favorite gems.

cubic zirconia - Also called CZ, cubic zirconia is not, strictly speaking, a semi-precious stone, though it is rather loosely related to the semi-precious gemstone zircon, a naturally-occuring mixture of zirconia and silica also known as zirconium silicate. Cubic zirconia are simulated stones made up of zirconium powder (usually obtained from zircon) which has been heated to an extremely high temperature and stabilized with other minerals, most often yttrium oxide. The addition of other metal oxide "impurities" results in colored CZ. Cerium gives the resulting stone a yellow, orange, or red color; chromium results in green, neodymium yields purple, erbium lends the color pink, and titanium gives the stone a golden-brown color. Cubic zirconia are very hard stones, carrying a Mohs rating of 8.5, so care should be taken with jewelry bearing CZ to prevent scratching other metals and stones.

faustite - sometimes called apple-green turquoise, faustite gets its bright yellow-green color from zinc. It is a member of the turquoise family, with a matrix ranging from black to brown to greyish-white, and rates a 5.5 on the Mohs scale. Like turquoise, faustite may be treated, though as far as we can determine, it is not generally sold in chalk or reconstituted forms, as turquoise often is, and the items on this site utilizing faustite are of stone, not chalk, and though they may have been dyed to color their grey matrix, as far as we can determine, they have not been treated with waxes or resins. While there are no historical references to the stone to be found, because of it's bright green color, faustite is considered by many as a "nature stone" which provides the wearer with a keen appreciation of the life around him/her and allowing for deeper communication with nature, especially plants. This makes it an ideal gift for the gardner or landscape artist in your life!

garnet - Deep red garnet gets its name from the Greek word for pomegranate, granatum, but the stone is also found in a wide range of colors, including green, orange, brown, black, and various shades of red from pink to red-brown to very dark red. Blue seems to be the only color thus far which is not represented by some member of the garnet family. The term "garnet" is actually best applied to a mineral group, as it encompasses a great many minerals with similar chemical structure and is usually found as a composite of more than one. While the stone is fairly common and inexpensive, some forms of it - such as Tsavorite and Demantoid - are more rare and can be expensive. Garnet is highly refractive and carries a Mohs rating of 7 - 7.5, making it an ideal choice of gemstone and a popular one throughout the ages. It was one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest, was included in the tombs of ancient Egyptians to ensure their safe passage through the land of the dead, and was a sacred stone to Native American Indians, the Incans, Mayans, and some African tribal elders. It has been credited with helping to keep the blood clean of infections and to cure depression, and is considered a stone of compassion and symbol of affection, carried to draw love to the bearer and given to friends to ensure future reunions. Garnet is found in Scotland, Switzerland, South Africa, Tanzania, Myanmar, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States, most notably in Arizona.

goldstone - Actually a manmade glass from China, the bright flecks in goldstone are flecks of copper embedded in the glass.

green apple turquoise - green apple (or apple green) turquoise may be turquoise, which gets its bright yellow-green color from the addition of iron, or faustite, a member of the turquoise group. Faustite gains its green color from zinc. Both minerals have a matrix ranging from black to grey or greyish-white. Faustite rates a 5.5 on the Mohs scale while the true turquoise is rated 5 - 6 on the scale. Like blue turquoise, either mineral may be treated. For untreated green apple turquoise, look for "Orvil Jack" from Nevada's Blue Ridge Mine; its namesake did not approve of treated stone, and his survivors maintain his rigid standards of production. Other forms of green apple include Carico Lake Turquoise, which resembles Orvil Jack in color and appearance, and the darker Stennich Turquoise. Both are mined in Nevada.

howlite - Once called "white buffalo" by some Native Americans, grey-streaked white howlite is a soft stone rating 2.5 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Most notable for it's ability to masquerade as turquoise and some other semi-precious stones, howlite draws its name from that of its discoverer, Nova Scotian geologist Henry How. Often erroneously labelled "white jasper," howlite isn't jasper at all, but a much softer stone rating 2.5 - 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Its soft nature makes howlite ideal for carving, and slabs of the material are often painted with scenes and designs that make artistic use of the veins. Howlite represents patience and is often worn to help increase observation, memory, inner peace. It is said howlite reflects offensive behavior and is a good stone to wear to help positively resolve confrontation. Because of it's softness, care should be taken with howlite jewelry. It is found in most substantial quantities in Canada and California, with smaller deposits located in Germany and Serbia.

jade - Most jade used in jewelry making is either jadeite or nephrite jade. The stone most of us tend to think of as jade is nephrite, a form of actinolite, ranging in color from bright, yellowish to medium-dark green; however, nephrite jade is also found in shades of black, cream, tan, blueish grey, and pink. Nephrite jade rates a 6.0 - 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Jade's other popular form is that of jadeite, a 6.5 - 7.0 on the Mohs scale. Jadeite comes in a wide range of colors, including mauve, lavender, red, orange, yellow, aqua and grey, in addition to its many shades of green. Burma Jade, or Burmese Jadeite, is highly prized and rare and includes varying shades of white, yellow, green, and black. A durable stone popular for carving, jade was considered a sacred stone in China and was often used in the making of sacred items, as it was believed to bless whatever it came into contact with. Many cultures throughout history and the world have long believed jade to hold powers of good luck, magical protection, wisdom, and spiritual attunement. It is often used as a symbol of excellence and purity. And legend has it sleeping with a piece of jade beneath one's pillow will help in the remembrance of dreams to allow for a realization of potential...sleep with jade beneath your pillow and your dreams will come true!

jasper - Regarded in India as the mother of all stones, jasper was also chosen as the foundation stone of the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. A 7.0 on the Mohs scale, jasper comes in a wide range of colors, from yellow to brick red, green, brown, and multi-colored specimens.

moonstone - Long-favored for use in jewelry, moonstone was a wildly popular element in the Art Nouveau design movement of the early 20th century and is arguably the most preferred form of feldspar. A 6.0 on the Mohs scale, moonstone gets its pretty shimmer from a separation of minerals during formation, not from beams of moonlight, as the ancients believed. It is often a soft, dove grey or brownish color, but it also ranges from milky white with a blue sheen (called blue or rainbow moonstone) to pale orange or peach, green, yellow, or reddish. An unenhanced stone, moonstone is not treated with heat, radiation, or coatings, either to enhance its color or to protect its surface, so reasonable care should be taken with your moonstone jewelry to prevent scratches. The most desirable and highest qualities of moonstone are produced in Sri Lanka, but the stone is also found in India, Madagascar, Brazil, Burma, Tanzania, the European Alps, Mexico, and the US, in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Moonstone is the mythical and modern birthstone for June, and folk lore has it the stone invokes tender passions when placed beneath the tongues of lovers during the full moon...though I'm not at all certain it's the stone that does the trick! Moonstone is considered a sacred stone in India, where it is believed to bring good fortune, and is still carried as a talisman in many parts of the world.

Malaysia jade - This vibrantly colored stone is actually dyed quartz. The quartz is translucent to semi-translucent, well-polished, and permanently dyed.

mountain jade - This dyed stone is actually dolomite marble from Asia.

muscovite - Once called "Muscovy Glass," after the Muscovy province of Russia, muscovite was used in Old Russia as window glass, due to its transparency. It is related to aventurine and contains mica. Various impurities give the different varieties of muscovite color, including white, silver, yellow, green, violet, red, and browns. Despite it's low Mohs rating (2 - 2.5), sheets of muscovite are quite durable and are often found in sand that has undergone so much erosion most other minerals would have been destroyed, and before synthetic materials were developed to replace them, sheets made of the mineral were used as the windows in kitchen oven doors. Muscovite is considered a stone of humanity, enabling one to accept the flaws of others and to maintain an open heart.

new jade - This opaque to translucent stone is actually serpentine, popular among many practitioners of Kundalini yoga, and is approximately a 3.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a reasonably soft stone. While it is mostly found in muted sea foam green, it can also be found in its natural state in a gorgeous citrussy color similar to peridot. Serpentine is believed to open a pathway for the Kundalini to travel and to clear clouded chakras. Like real jade, new jade is also ascribed the powers of luck and spiritual attunement.

obsidian - With a silicon content of at least 70%, obsidian is a naturally-occurring glass produced by rapidly cooling lava. It is not considered a true mineral, due to its lack of crystalline structure, but obsidian has a Mohs hardness of 5 - 5.5 and is often used for ornamental purposes, as well as in cardiac surgery; blades crafted from obsidian have a much sharper edge than those of surgical steel and result in less tissue trauma. While most people think black when they think of obsidian, it is also found in a wide range of colors, including smokey grey/brown or dark green, or may contain small bubbles of air which give it a sheen of gold, green, purple, "rainbow", silver or red. Some obsidian contains white inclusions resembling snowflakes, and naturally rounded pebbles called "Apache Tears" often have "windows" through which one can look into a bright light and see what looks like a tiny tear suspended inside. Native American legend has it each tiny "drop" was shed by an Apache woman to mourn warriors driven over a cliff near Superior, Arizona, by the US cavalry during the late 1800's. Where each tear struck the ground, it was turned to stone, and natural Apache Tear nuggets are given now as a token of good luck.

peridot

rose quartz - While the way to a man's heart is believed to be through his stomach, the way to win the heart of a woman was once believed to be by giving her a piece of rose quartz. Since ancient times, the pretty, delicately-colored stone has been believed to be a stone of love and compassion, famous for increasing fertility. I'm not so sure of its usefulness in that regard, but it is a beautiful, soothing stone, and one I love to work with. A macrocrystalline mineral, rose quartz is found in solid masses in the volcanic rock pegmatite, and prior to the discovery of small, well-formed crystals in Brazil was not believed to exist in that form. In fact, the crystals discovered in 1959 were denounced at first as fake. Today, Minas Gerais remains the sole source of such rose quartz crystals in the world. A 7.0 on the Mohs scale, rose quartz gets its delicate pink color from titanium and is also found in Madagascar, India, Scotland, Spain, Germany and the USA, including Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, New York, and the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, where some specimins exhibit asterism similar to that found in some sapphires. Rose quartz is believed to encourage artistic creativity, heighten feelings of belonging in a relationship, and attract love to the wearer.

quartz - The single most abundant mineral on earth, quartz comprises roughly 12% of the earth's crust and occurs in a wide variety of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

rose quartz - While the way to a man's heart is believed to be through his stomach, the way to win the heart of a woman was once believed to be by giving her a piece of rose quartz. Since ancient times, the pretty, delicately-colored stone has been believed to be a stone of love and compassion, famous for increasing fertility. I'm not so sure of its usefulness in that regard, but it is a beautiful, soothing stone, and one I love to work with. A macrocrystalline mineral, rose quartz is found in solid masses in the volcanic rock pegmatite, and prior to the discovery of small, well-formed crystals in Brazil was not believed to exist in that form. In fact, the crystals discovered in 1959 were denounced at first as fake. Today, Minas Gerais remains the sole source of such rose quartz crystals in the world. A 7.0 on the Mohs scale, rose quartz gets its delicate pink color from titanium and is also found in Madagascar, India, Scotland, Spain, Germany and the USA, including Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, New York, and the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, where some specimins exhibit asterism similar to that found in some sapphires. Rose quartz is believed to encourage artistic creativity, heighten feelings of belonging in a relationship, and attract love to the wearer.

turquoise - Making its way to Europe as a trade item from Turkey during the Crusades, turquoise gets its name from the French and means Turkish. Its bright color is the result of copper, and it rates from 5 - 6 on the Mohs scale. It is easily damaged from hard contact, so extra care should be taken with your turquoise jewelry. Best known for its bright sky blues and blue-green hues, turquoise is also found in yellow and bright green, when iron or chromium are also present. Since its discovery by the Egyptians in 6000 BC, turquoise has held a place of honor among gemstones. In Persia, it was thought to bring riches, ward away unnatural death, and protect the wearer from the "evil eye." The ancient Aztecs believed it was a holy stone and used it in ceremonial masks. And the American Indians believe turquoise established a link between sky and lake, bringing needed rain. Even today, it is often used to represent the planet earth and believed to be a healing/grounding stone and useful for protecting property and warding against accident. Turquoise is also one of the most rare opaque minerals on earth used in jewelry, so as you might imagine, not much of it is allowed to go to waste. As a result, there is a grading system for turquoise it behooves the buyer to be aware of.

Natural turquoise is untreated, rare, and very expensive, making up less than 3% of all turquoise on the market worldwide. Most stone of this grade carries the name of the home mine and is distinctive to the vein(s) of that particular mine; Carico Lake Turquoise is one such example, although some named turquoise may also be stabilized. Stabilized turquoise is softer turquoise which has been injected with clear resin during a process using heat and high pressure, to make lower quality stone harder and more durable. The colors are natural and permanent, and stabilized turquoise may also be polished. Treated turquoise is similar to stabilized turquoise, but the resins injected also contain dye. This color is permanent but not the natural color of the stone, and may look artificial. The price for treated turquoise should be lower than that of natural or stabilized turquoise. A great many beads and jewelry items on the market today are stabilized or treated turquoise, as this allows for more affordable items. Stabilized turquoise is the lowest grade of turquoise Dragonfly will knowingly utilize.

Reconstituted turquoise is comprised mostly of very soft "chalk" turquoise and "scrap" which have been ground into powder, then mixed with blue dye and plastic and molded into blocks or cakes which are subsequently cut into desired shapes or bead forms. A great many heishi beads are of block turquoise. In our opinion, reconstituted or "block" turquoise is little more than simulated or imitation "stone", and should not be sold as the real thing, though a great many dealers will do so. If you will buy reconstituted turquoise, please at least do so when the quality is adequately reflected in the price. Imitation turquoise is comprised of turquoise lookalikes such as glass, plastic, clay, or dyed howlite. A great deal of stone represented in the marketplace today as turquoise is actually dyed howlite.

In addition to the five official grades of turquoise listed above, there are other treated forms of the stone on the market today. These include Enhanced turquoise: turquoise which has been impregnated with quartz via man-made process, will take a high polish, and is hard to distinguish from natural turquoise, which may also contain quartz. Wax-treated or sealed turquoise. Much of the turquoise coming from China has been wax-sealed to deepen and stabilize the color. The treatment affects only the surface of the stone and is not permanent. Sealed turquoise has been surface sealed with an epoxy or resin to protect the stone from color change due to dust, chemicals, and skin oils from seeping into the surface of the stone. It is long-lasting, but not permanent, and some color change is inevitable.

For more on turquoise, please see the American Turquoise Mines yahoo group, a consortium of American turquoise miners and artists dedicated to educating the gem-buying public about turquoise and the turquoise group of stones.

green apple turquoise - while strictly speaking, green apple - or apple-green - turquoise should be turquoise, which gets its bright yellow-green color from the addition of iron or chromium, it may also be mislabelled faustite, a member of the turquoise group. Faustite gains its green color from zinc. Both minerals have a matrix ranging from black to grey or greyish-white. Faustite rates a 5.5 on the Mohs scale while the true turquoise is rated 5 - 6 on the scale. Like blue turquoise, either mineral may be treated. For untreated green apple turquoise, look for "Orvil Jack" from Nevada's Blue Ridge Mine; its namesake did not approve of treated stone, and his survivors maintain his rigid standards of production. Other forms of green apple include Carico Lake Turquoise, which resembles Orvil Jack in color and appearance, and the darker Stennich Turquoise. All are mined in Nevada.

sacred buffalo turquoise - Discovered in the Dry Creek Mine on the Shoshone Indian Reservation near Battle Mountain, Nevada, in 1993, Sacred Buffalo turquoise is rare and fairly new to the jewelry scene. Sometimes called white turquoise, the stone is not white at all and varies in color, due to a lack of heavy metals in its composition. The vein ranges from whitish grey to black. Not to be confused with "white buffalo," which is actually the white stone howlite and not turquoise at all, the only known streak of Sacred Buffalo turquoise in the entire world is that located in the Dry Creek Mine, where it is mined by the Shoshone peoples and sent to Navajo tribes in Arizona and New Mexico to be made into jewelry.