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Showing posts from March, 2020

How is Turquoise Used Today?

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Today, turquoise use in Native American jewelry includes everything from necklaces and rings to bracelets and earrings. The proliferation of online shopping options has opened up the turquoise jewelry market to a much broader base of customers who do not have to travel to Arizona or New Mexico to get authentic, handcrafted turquoise jewelry items. When purchasing turquoise, buyers and enthusiasts are encouraged to use caution, as some sellers buy mass-produced pieces from overseas that can be plastic, fake or knock-offs, posing as authentic Native American pieces. These Native American artisans are regulated and protected by New Mexico state as well as Federal Acts. http://palmstrading.over-blog.com/2020/03/how-is-turquoise-used-today.html

Why is Turquoise Significant in Native American Culture?

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The semi-precious stone has held meaning for many cultures, from the Ancient Egyptians to the Persians. Turquoise is even mentioned in the bible’s Old Testament, and has been discovered in ancient burial sites in Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and throughout Central America. https://palmstradingcompany.weebly.com/blog/why-is-turquoise-significant-in-native-american-culture

What is Turquoise?

Turquoise is an opaque mineral, most often blue-green in color, with a chemical description as a hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate, formulated as CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. Colors can vary from white to powder blue, to green blue and green-yellow, depending on the concentration of copper and iron, or aluminum impurities. Finer grades of turquoise are rare. They have been found in areas of the Southwest United States, Iran, Sinai, Bulgaria, China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Australia, India, Chile, and Turkestan. https://palmstradingcompany.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/what-is-turquoise/