Art Turquoise
2011
A Note on Stabilizing Turquoise
Turquoise is a mix of copper and aluminum compounds. These compounds are usually in the form of hydrous phosphates of these two elements, along with other secondary compounds. Though the quantities of the secondary compounds are usually quite small, they can have a significant impact on the overall properties of the turquoise specimen. Look at your silver turquoise pendants, and in most cases, you will see that the stone has a deep sky blue color. This color is due to the presence of copper. If the specimen contains trace amounts of iron, the color would gain a greenish tinge. On the rare occasion when zinc enters the matrix, the color tends to be yellow. In the vast majority of cases, natural turquoise is quite soft, light, and porous. This makes it very difficult to cut and polish the stone. Even after the jewelry has been made, the turquoise tends to absorb moisture and oils from the skin and gradually weakens and deteriorates with time. Less than five percent (less than three percent, by some estimates) of the world’s turquoise is of good enough quality to be directly used in jewelry. Natural turquoise is rare and therefore very costly. This makes it impossible to use natural turquoise in fashion jewelry designs. To overcome this problem some bright gemologists came up with a few different innovative methods to improve the quality of moderate and even low quality turquoise specimens so that this beautiful and popular gemstone could be used in fashion jewelry in a cost effective manner.
- The most basic form of stabilization is to coat the surface of the stone with wax or vegetable oil. This process has some very minor effects on sealing the pores on the surface of the stone, and gives the stone a shine. However, the treatment is very temporary in nature and as such is not effective in improving the overall quality of the stone.
- The most commonly used technique of stabilization is to treat the stone with a clear epoxy resin. The resin is used in liquid form. The stone is kept immersed in the epoxy resin liquid where capillary action sucks the liquid into the pores, or the liquid is infused into the stone by simultaneous application of pressure and vacuum. The resin penetrates the stone and is allowed to harden. This process reduces the pore space within the stone making it less susceptible to absorption of liquids. The stabilized stone is also easier to handle and can be polished to have a shinning finish. An experienced gemologist can under magnification, identify whether or not the stone has been stabilized using this method.
- State-of-the-art in turquoise stabilization is to use vaporized silica. Silica in vapor form is infused into the stone. Similar to epoxy stabilization, this process reduces the porosity of the stone and makes it suitable for jewelry applications. The process is however much more complex that epoxy resin stabilization, and must be carried out under controlled conditions in a laboratory with proper health and safety safeguards in place. When performed effectively, silica stabilization is so good that not even an experienced person can examine the stone and say with confidence whether or not the stone was stabilized.
Turquoise that has been stabilized using resin or silica is suitable for fashion jewelry applications such as turquoise pendants, accessory beads in a cultured pearl necklace, or even sterling silver jewelry where turquoise is the only gemstone. Gemologists and jewelers consider stabilized turquoise to be genuine turquoise, although the ethical sellers will clearly inform you in the turquoise you are buying is natural or stabilized. It is important to note that without the process of stabilization most of the southwestern jewelry on the market today would not have been possible.
About the Author
Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a fashion jewelry buff.
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