Featured For February: Natural Arizona Kingman Turquoise is one the official Birthstones for December

Turquoise is one of the official Birthstones for the month of December as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912 and the accepted gem for the fifth and eleventh wedding anniversaries. Turquoise is also the Planetary stone for Aquarius, Taurus and Sagittarius. Turquoise is a valuable mineral and is one of the most valuable non-transparent minerals used in the jewelry trade. It has been mined by early Egyptians since at least 6000 BC. Most specimens are cryptocrystalline, meaning that the crystals can only be seen by a microscope. The finest Turquoise has come from Iran but is challenged by some southwestern United States specimens. Poorer quality Turquoise is often dyed or color stabilized with coatings of various resins. Stabilization (without color enhancement) is an accepted treatment for cutting cabochons and inlay work as it hardens the mineral and helps with body oil absorption.