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Only about 25% of turquoise is usable or desirable in its natural, untreated form. Most untreated turquoise is a fragile, porous stone with a tendency to undergo changes in color when exposed to light, perspiration, oils, and detergents. While turquoise is hard enough to be considered a gemstone, it is comparatively soft. The following are various treatments done to turquoise to keep it from fading or crumbling. Natural Material which has not been altered in any way from how it is found in nature.Enhanced Stabilized Impregnated with acrylic or epoxy to harden the stone and enhance the color. Stabilized turquoise will not change color over time.Compressed A treatment that uses pressure to harden the stone.Fracture-Sealed The stone is treated with a fracture sealer which hardens the matrix in it.Synthetic Stones produced in the laboratory, which exactly reproduces the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the natural stone.Lab-Grown Artificially made substances which have all the same physical properties and chemical composition of the naturally found substance.Imitation Any compound or mineral which is manufactured to resemble the natural product. |
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