Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:24 pm Posts: 20 Location: East Tennessee
Hello Gemologists... I wanted to test a large number of turquoise specimens for stabilization, but didn't have a hot needle. I used a small butane torch with a hot chisel tip on it. When laid on its side against flats on the turquoise, some of the specimens quickly popped and sweated as resin heated up and bubbled out of the stone and there waas an obvious plastic smell. Others did not do this, but did turn brown where the heated tip laid against the stone. My question is, is the browning (burning) characteristic of turquoise, or is it an indication of lower levels of resin (stabilization) being present? TIA, royjohn
_________________ "royjohn"
Faceting Custom Gems in East Tennessee
Buying and Selling Facet Rough
(865) 368-6081
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:24 pm Posts: 20 Location: East Tennessee
Hello Barbra, Thanks for the articles...from them I deduce that Zachary treated turquoise is hard to distinguish from natural by simple tests, but I didn't find an answer to my question as to whether a natural turquoise would turn brown when exposed to heat from a soldering iron. Best, royjohn
_________________ "royjohn"
Faceting Custom Gems in East Tennessee
Buying and Selling Facet Rough
(865) 368-6081
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:24 pm Posts: 20 Location: East Tennessee
There was a pretty clear difference between those that bubbled, showed liquid on the surface and clearly smelled and those that took a while to turn brown in the spot where the chisel point contacted them, so I think I have my answer. Thanks, royjohn
_________________ "royjohn"
Faceting Custom Gems in East Tennessee
Buying and Selling Facet Rough
(865) 368-6081
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