Kingman Turquoise

High-quality turquoise is one of the most attractive stones for designers who like to embellish different jewelry pieces. The colour of turquoise can range from blue to green. There are also variations to the patterns. You can easily categorize turquoise based on their origin. The attractive stone can be found in different North American, South American, Asian, and African regions. However, we are going to talk about natural Kingman Turquoise.

Origin of Kingman Turquoise

There is a large Kingman mine in the northwestern part of Arizona, North America. The Colbaugh family mined the stone from this place.

It is one of the biggest producers of the finest quality turquoise. So, the mine owner is Colbaugh, and the name of the company is Colbaugh Processing.

The Colbaugh family-owned Kingman turquoise mine is now the only mine in the USA to produce turquoise commercially in the USA.

Colbaugh Processing mainly deals with stabilized turquoise, and it infuses epoxy into the gemstone to make the colour deeper. It also turns out chalky materials for polishing and cutting needs. The secret process is useful for treating medium-grade to low-grade turquoise at Kingman.

Truly, it is rare to find the old Kingman Turquoise. The word- Kingman refers to the high blue shade reflected by the stone. In fact, this blue tone is the colour standard in the gemstone industry. Moreover, the mine has earned fame due to its bright and rounded blue nuggets and black matrix. You can hardly find turquoise mines producing nuggets of this quality. However, the Kingman has also produced turquoise of other colours, like pale green with the brown and red matrix.

Composition and other characteristics

The chemical composition of turquoise contains hydrous phosphate of aluminum and copper. The chemical formula of this stone is CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O. The major use of turquoise is for manufacturing ornamental objects and jewelry.

The overall composition can affect the colour of your gemstone. The presence of a slight amount of iron may cause a little deviation from the blue tone. The iron can produce a green tint in the stone. Some turquoise stones also have zinc as a substitute for copper.

What Are The Properties Of The Kingman Turquoise?

• Chemical Formula: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
• Specific Gravity: 2.5 to 2.9
• Hardness: 5 to 6
• Refractive Index: nα = 1.610 nβ = 1.615 nγ = 1.650
• Diaphaneity: Opaque

Patterns found in turquoise stones

Turquoise may range from opaque to semitranslucent with a shade like medium or light blue and greenish-blue. There are also some dark splotches in the stone. Moreover, veins of matrix running through it, and we refer to it as spiderweb turquoise. You will notice a web-like pattern in the stone.

Learn about the turquoise cuts

You will find turquoise stones mostly in cabochon cuts. The smooth rounded, and dome-shaped design reflects the distinctive colour. Artisans and designers buy these gems to make fashionable jewelry. For instance, they use turquoise as oblong and round beads for necklaces.

Large turquoise pieces are rough and have carvings. Turquoise stones of any size ensure consistency and quality of the colour. You can also buy fascinating Kingman turquoise stones for designing your ornaments and for some other purposes. The carat, cut, and other factors can make a difference.