How to select quality natural Turquoise rough part #2

This is a very big subject and it will probably take many articles to explain the various ins and outs of buying and cutting natural Turquoise rough. But this is a start...

These are my personal experiences and opinions. Some people may not agree, some may, but this is what I look for and how I select and work with this type of rough. If you read these articles and pay attention, what works for me will work for you.

I cannot stress this enough and I know some people will not listen to me, but especially as a beginner buy Turquoise (or any rough for that matter) from a quality suppler, preferably an expert.

Left: This is a mixed piece of natural Turquoise.

This piece is basically what I would call a "guesser".

What and why?

OK take a look and see that this piece of Turquoise is pretty convoluted and it looks like the layer(s) out to the right may or may not be one solid layer or several layers twisted and turned together.

This is very common and typical of all types of Turquoise.

See the back side of the piece below. Look at the shape and direction of the material.

Left: This is the back side of the above piece.

As you can see from the back side the layer(s) seem to have become one thin one.

What this probably means is that the there is really just one layer through this piece and that the single layer is very twisted.

This means that if you cut this piece you may end up with a good stone, but in most cases when you see layers like this it is a good idea to just pass on the piece.

Why? Well layers like this tend to be difficult to work with and they often will not cut well because the rough has pockets in the twists, that maybe Turquoise, or they maybe rock.

By looking at the top picture you can see that the piece by my thumb is probably going to cut a good, if small stone. The back 2/3rds of this piece is more than likely waste. So the yield would be very low.

Left: This is a layer of Kingman

As you can see this piece of Turquoise is a layer. This again is very typical of how almost all Turquoise comes out of the ground.

This layer is a little convoluted, but basically it will cab well if the cutter follows the curves. See the picture below for the back side.

The color is good, blue, and solid. I would cut this piece in to several smaller pieces that will lay fairly flat.

I would back this piece by grinding a flat and then apply the backing to the flat.

At that point this piece will be fairly easy to cut and should make very nice cabs.

Left: The other side of the piece above.

Note that this piece of Turquoise consists of one solid layer.

The layer is thicker and becomes thinner towards the back of the piece.

But the layer is solid and you can see the blue layer, as a layer all the way around the piece of Turquoise.

Another way to handle this layer would be to trim off the thinner side and use it for inlay work and just cab the thicker part of the layer.

It just depends on what the cutter wants to do. Either way this piece is pretty good and will be easy to work with.

Left: This is a layer of Kingman, top view. Note the bulge to the top right of the stone. You can see a layer just to the right of my fingers.

Note the blue vein goes all the way around the piece of Turquoise.

This is an interesting piece and it is usable, but there will be some loss.

Depending on what the cutter wants to do this piece of Turquoise could be used in several different ways.

Look below at the other two pictures of this same piece of Turquoise.

As you will note this piece is a layer which then splits into several layers towards one side.

Left: This is a layer of Kingman, side view.

This view shows the spot where this Turquoise either joined from several smaller layers or split into several smaller layers, depending on how you want to view it.

OK, so how do we work with this piece? It is really easier than you might think. Note there is a slight bulge to the right of my finger in this picture.

This is the bulge of the layers. So to cut the layers off, just follow the bulge. Cut along it.

Once cut you will have a larger piece that is the single solid layer. You will also have the bulged piece. The larger piece can just be cabbed The layers on the bulge can be easily sawed apart and backed for cutting.

Left: This is a layer of Kingman, side view.

As you this is the third side view.

Note the "bulge" on the right towards the back of the layer. Just to the right of my fore finger in the picture.

The solid layer where my fore finger is... will be easy to work with.

As you can see it is flat, so it will cut very easily.

The saw blade will cut through the layer just to the right of my fingers to cut the "bulge" layers off.

This piece is decent yield and will cut some nice stones.

Left: This is a layered piece of Kingman.

This piece has two layers that joined to make one, or separated to make two layers depending on your view point.

The bottom layer is really pretty thin and will have to be backed to be cut. Or it could be used for inlay work.

Notice that the layers are separated by rock, which is a good sign and probably indicates that the Turquoise is not only solid but it is very likely hard as well.

The top layer once separated will be easily cabbed and should make a nice stone.

As you can see Turquoise comes in many different formations and the Turquoise I have used for demonstration purposes in these articles is all from the same Kingman mine. So as you can see there are many things to consider just in one location or mine. When you consider other mines, many of the formations and problems will be the same or at least similar. But depending on the mine, Turquoise can very with locations. So what you see and the problems you have to work with from one location can change.

That is part of what make turquoise both a challenge and enjoyable to work with.

Just Ask Jeff Index

E-mail to inquire or order: jeff @ faceters.com or jeff @ cabbers.com