Maanshan Turquoise Graduating Rounded Potato Beads. Beautiful 8 inch strand for bracelets with graduating nuggets that measure 5-6mm up to 10-12mm diameter by 8-18mm in length. Ma'anshan Turquoise is mined in China near Nanjing & Shanghai. Maanshan is a hard, beautiful turquoise that ranges in color from blue to green and some looks a lot like Morenci Turquoise from Arizona. These beautiful nuggets are Zachery treated -
Per the GIA (www.gia.edu) "Over the last 10 years, millions of carats of turquoise have been enhanced by a proprietary process called the Zachery treatment. Tests show that this process effectively improves a stone’s ability to take a good polish and may or may not improve a stone’s color. It also decreases the material’s porosity, limiting its tendency to absorb discoloring agents such as skin oils. Examination of numerous samples known to be treated by this process revealed that Zachery-treated turquoise has gemological properties that are similar to those of untreated natural turquoise, and that the treatment does not involve impregnation with a polymer."
