OP502 Dark Turquoise Rough Stone

Lab Turquoise

Natural turquoise is a copper ore common to many arid regions around the world. There’s so much to know about these stones, their origins, how to maintain them, and much more.

In this article, you will get all the vital information about turquoise stones and effective ways to make sure they remain attractive long after you buy them.

History of Lab-Grown Turquoise

Scientific evidence show that turquoise mining was popular around 4000BC. Several historical figures referred to this stone in their writings. One of such persons is Pliny the Elder, and he called turquoise ‘callais’, meaning beautiful stone in Greek.

Several archaeological findings in recent times also show that turquoise mining was a large-scale enterprise in Egypt’s Sinai region. Many other records also suggest that turquoise was a popular jewelry piece among Persian, Aztec, Chinese, Egyptian, and other civilizations.

However, lab-grown turquoise was not a common process until after the nineteenth century. Previous attempts to stabilize the mixture for lab-made turquoise proved almost impossible, but advances to growing synthetic gems made it happen.

How is Lab-Grown Turquoise Made?

Turquoise is a basic form of hydrous phosphates of copper and aluminum, and primarily forms in arid regions naturally. Gradual filtering of acidic solutions into veins present in rocks rich in aluminum form this semi-precious stone in common streaks of green or blue.

Turquoise doesn’t require deep-earth pressure and heat to form and can occur at 20 feet underground.

Lab-made turquoise replicates the natural process to form lookalike stones with many impressive features. Man-made turquoise usually forms in a controlled environment as a liquid form of phosphorus, copper, hydrogen, and aluminum.

Uses of Lab-Grown Turquoise

Lab-grown turquoise is useful as adornment pieces on different kinds of jewelry. Jewelers work these stones into centerpieces on earrings, necklaces, and other forms of beautiful jewelry. The signature blue color of Lab-Grown Turquoise lazuli also makes it a preferred option for designing:

• Ornaments,
• Sculpture,
• Vases,
• Fancy boxes,
• Interior walls, fittings, etc.

Artisans, jewelers, interior decorators, and buyers fancy lab-grown turquoise for multiple purposes. These crystalline rocks are easy to work with and artisans and experienced jewelers can mold them into different useful items.

Chemical Properties of Lab-Grown Turquoise

• Main element(s) formula: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 -5H2O
• Structure: Uneven
• Mohs scale hardness: 5.5 – 6
• Streak: White
• Fracture: Granular and conchoidal
• Luster: Waxy and vitreous
• Common streaks: Light green, blue
• Dispersion: None
• Specific gravity: 2.38 – 2.86 (commonly around 2.74)
• Refractive index: 1.610 – 1.650
• Birefringence: 0.04

Maintenance Tips for Lab-Grown Turquoise

Preserve the appearance of your lab-grown turquoise with a polishing cloth. Use a polishing cloth to wipe off dirt from your marble and retain their shine and appearance.

Make sure you never expose turquoise to ammonia-rich commercial jewelry cleaners. Some commercial jewelry cleaners with ammonia might damage the structure of your turquoise gems.

Proper storage is another effective way to maintain your lab-grown turquoise rocks. These rocks don’t need too much maintenance and might react poorly to regular cleaning tools used on diamonds and other gemstones.

Also, turquoise crystals may react poorly under a jeweler’s torch rays and some ingredients in highly-concentrated liquid soap.