FAQ

Stabilizing is generally adding a foreign substance to turquoise to make it harder and more durable.

The term natural turquoise should “only” mean the stone has come out of the ground unaltered short of cutting and polishing (even the polishing compounds that are used can be subject to scrutiny). Any deviations from this should be fully disclosed. This is the definition that ethical miners and turquoise sellers use. There are lot of people on the internet that are not using this definition of natural turquoise and a lot of it is outright fraud. You can not have natural stabilized turquoise or natural color treated turquoise etc. Buyer beware, if you want good turquoise, buy from reputable dealers… Like me.

Absolutely its the best because its American right? Well I actually think it is better in general, however, the reason may surprise you. There are many places in the world that produce fine turquoise, equivalent to the best that America produces. The big difference is documentation. There are generally better records of individual turquoise mines and miners in the USA than anywhere else. This leads to a deeper potential history of provenance and as a result a higher value.

The Zachary treatment is a secret electro/chemical process that makes some grades of turquoise superior to what they were naturally. Zachary treated turquoise will test as natural and is is often sold as natural even through it is not. A thorough chemical analysis will show higher levels of phosphorus than natural turquoise normally has.

I ship an order within 1 business day. There are occasions that may take a little longer, such as when I am out of town, etc. If there is going to be any significant delay in shipping, I will message the buyer, however this is very rare.

I ship USPS First Class Mail with tracking. Upgraded shipping is available. Please message me for options.

Customs and Import taxes:

Buyers are responsible for any customs and or import taxes that may apply to the item or items ordered. I am not responsible for delays due to customs or shipping.

Return and Refund Policy

Thank you for shopping with us. We hope you love your purchase, but if for any reason you are not completely satisfied, we are here to help.

Returns:

Domestic Returns (USA): If you are located in the USA, you can return your item within 7 days of receiving it.

International Returns: If you are located outside the USA, you can return your item within 14 days of receiving it.

Condition: The item must be returned in the same condition in which it was shipped, with all original packaging and tags.

Exceptions:

Rough Material: Returns are accepted for rough material only if the plastic-sealed bag in which the rough is shipped remains unopened. The cost of return shipping is the responsibility of the customer and is not refundable.

Contact Information:

Contact us within 3 days of delivery.

Ship items back to us within 7 days of delivery.

Request a cancellation within 3 hours of purchase.

Jewelry and Stones:

Full refund minus shipping if returned in the same condition as ordered, within the time frame above.

Item must be in the same condition as received.

No refund if the item is worn or damaged.

Refunds:

Full Refund: Once we receive the returned item and verify its condition, we will issue a refund for 100% of the purchase price.

Return Shipping: The cost of return shipping is the responsibility of the customer and is not refundable.

Exchanges:

We accept exchanges on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us directly to discuss your exchange request. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions or need assistance with your return or exchange, please contact us at [email protected].

Policy Updates:

We reserve the right to update or change our return and refund policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page.

Generally I can size rings and necklaces in a limited fashion. I can usually stretch most rings to at least one size larger. I can do this service for free. There are some rings that cannot be stretched. There is a small risk to stretching a ring and if there is a catastrophic failure there is no charge to you.

I do not reduce rings, for that you will need to take it to your local jewelery. For any other pieces that do not fall into these categories just contact me and ask.

What is Grasshopper Turquoise?

Grasshopper Turquoise is an exceptionally rare and collectible form of American turquoise, mined exclusively from the Grasshopper Mine in Lander County, Nevada. Owned by Shreve Saville, this mine is renowned for its fantastic range of colors, spanning from chartreuse greens to dark emerald greens, often characterized by distinctive “eyes,” and even beautiful, distinctive hues of blue with light golden matrix.

What makes Grasshopper Turquoise unique?

Aside from its striking colors, Grasshopper Turquoise stands out due to its rigorous testing results. While many mines were tested for faustite, very few actually contained it. Grasshopper was the only mine to test as faustite with the secondary highest mineral content being turquoise, not variscite. This unique composition makes Grasshopper Turquoise one of the rarest and most collectible types of American turquoise available.

What is faustite?

Faustite is a rare mineral that is chemically similar to turquoise but contains zinc. It is highly prized for its vibrant colors and rarity. The presence of faustite, along with turquoise as the secondary mineral, makes Grasshopper Turquoise particularly special and sought after.

How does Grasshopper Turquoise compare to other turquoise?

Grasshopper Turquoise is in the same esteemed class as Carico Lake, Damale, and Orvil Jack turquoise, but with a much lower production rate. This limited availability further enhances its value and collectibility.

Where does Grasshopper Turquoise come from?

This rare material originates from the Grasshopper Mine in Lander County, Nevada. The mine produces a range of material from turquoise to faustite, adding to its uniqueness and desirability.

Where can I find more information about Grasshopper Turquoise?

For more detailed information, please refer to our blog write-up on Grasshopper Turquoise.

This is one of my mines in central Nevada near the Royston and Pilot mountain mining areas. It produces some very fine deep blue turquoise with red and black webbing. Please see my blog for more information on this mine

I am a small scale miner. I am very careful to honor the ground that I am mining. I do not leave trash or anything else at the mine that will hurt the land. All the claims that I mine are bonded, which means that the BLM is holding money that I put down to completley reclaim the mine. If I walk away from the claim or something happens to me, the money held in the bond, will be used to fill in the mining area and re-seed it taking it completely back to its natural state.