Dry Creek 'Sacred White Buffalo' Turquoise
Dry Creek Turquoise has gained much popularity with its creamy pale blue coloring and golden to cocoa brown matrix. The coloring very much reminds me of Larimar, of course Larimar does not have the beautiful golden matrix!
The Dry Creek Turquoise mine in Nevada was first discovered during the early 1990's by the Shoshone Indians. The Shoshone are not typically jewelry makers and had privately leased the mining rights on a limited basis or used the stone as trade.
Although there is some dispute over 'White' Turquoise (which we agree), it is a beautiful stone and popular amongst traditional and contemporary Native American silversmiths. White Buffalo was discovered in western Utah at the farthest edge of the Dry Creek Turquoise vein. This is likely the reason why many refer to it as 'turquoise'.
This is Sacred White Buffalo aka White Turquoise with it's very distinctive White Background and Black matrix!
Mineralogist state it lacks any metal in its composition (which gives turquoise color). Blue turquoise forms where there is copper present (most Arizona turquoise). Green turquoise forms where iron is present (most Nevada turquoise).
We actually have had some specimens from the middle of this vein where you can see just a hint of color into cream with beautiful golden brown matrix. Either way, the stone is beautiful with its striking black & white contrast and to my knowledge this is the only vein in the world.
Do not confuse White Buffalo with Howlite (white with gray matrix and much lighter in density) which is beautiful and desirable in its own right but considerably less in value than White Buffalo Turquoise. We have sadly seen unscrupulous dealers presenting Howlite as 'White Turquoise'.
We have designed with this beautiful and showy pendant for many years and are typically available in two showy sizes approximately in the $30 to $45 range depending on which size.
Very commonly labeled as White Turquoise ....This is NOT White Turquoise!
To confuse matters further, there is a magnesite mined in the Gila region of New Mexico commonly referred to as Crazy Horse or Wild Horse.
Whether misguided or misinformed, we have seen sellers call this and Australian Magnesite 'White Turquoise' as well (pictured below, it is an off white backgrounds with golden cocoa brown spider matrix often used as the base for turquoise color dyed beads/pendants)
The Dry Creek Turquoise Mine has been in legal dispute for some time and (at the time of this posting) is still closed with remaining rough not released into the market.
To view our complete collection of these fine stones,
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Dry Creek Turquoise can vary in depth of color as evident in this Pendant but there is no mistaking the creamy color and golden to cocoa brown matrix.
Here is where everything can really get muddled! The bead example to the left is also a Magnesite and likely from the larger, very beautiful Australian mines, but there is also deposits in Nevada.
This Magnesite has wonderful golden to cocoa brown matrix against an 'off white' background. We see this often labeled in a combination of titles including these words 'Sacred Buffalo White Turquoise'.
It is an absolutely beautiful stone and often dyed brilliant colors as in the photo to the right which simulates Gaspeite. With those brilliant colors it is dyed the color of 'turquoise' and sadly also sold as Turquoise (we see this very often misrepresented as 'Turquoise'.
Turquoise Color dyed Magnesite is actually very beautiful (in my opinion). Because the stone has an off white base, the dyed turquoise has a more Aqua color (just a hint of green as in the left photo) versus the right photo which is Howline dyed a turquoise color. Because Howlite is very white and they often use the scrap stone without the gray veining, the dyed beads are very blue with little to no matrix or veining.
With all those brilliant colors it can be dyed the color of 'turquoise' and sadly also sold as Turquoise (we see this very often misrepresented as 'Turquoise').
Please note these are just a few examples of 'turquoise color' dyed stones. They come in all shapes and sizes and under 'normal' circumstances, I would typically say 'use your own good judgement...if it sounds too good to be true...well, you know the rest'.
Unfortunately we are seeing more and more product being offered not necessarily at what would be perceived as a lower price, but these mislabeled products are being offered at the same price as the ''Real Deal'! What prompted my explansion on this information was when a Howlite Pendant (like the one pictured above which we sold on a custom beaded necklace for less than $60) was listed in a search next to our Sacred White Buffalo for the exact same price of $135...that's just criminal!
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