Mesa Verde Musings — china mountain turquoise

  The word Turquoise dates back to the 16th century, from an old French word for Turkish, because it was thought to have been brought to Europe through Turkey. Turquoise in its natural form is a very porous stone, which means it will fracture quite easily. Therefore, most of the turquoise used in jewelry is stabilized with a clear epoxy coating. This aids in strengthening the stone, as well as preventing the color from fading over time. (Color usually will fade when the oils from one's skin come into contact with the natural stone). The majority of turquoise on the...