White Buffalo Stone Cabochon

Designer cut with a delicate spray of black tendrils in the most luscious white stone. Polished to a vitreous (glassy) luster on the dome and sides. Flat, matte finish back with a beveled edge. You will receive the exact gemstone shown in photos.

Weight: 8.30 carats
Length: 15.53 mm
Width: 11.50 mm
Height: 5.30 mm

Species: Dolomite
--Variety: -
Trade Name(s): White Buffalo Stone, White Buffalo Turquoise*
Origin: Nevada, USA
Enhancement(s): (N) Natural

The trade name “White Buffalo” is used to identify the material that comes from the Tonopah, Nevada mine owned by the Otteson family.

The white stone is surrounded by black and brown flint-like chert (an opaque variety of quartz) which creates beautiful patterns. The stone appears in veins, is as hard as turquoise (Mohs hardness scale of 5.5 to 7.5) and cuts and polishes like turquoise.

Although often called “White Turquoise,” White Buffalo is not Turquoise at all. In fact, it is a long way from it. The main mineral is Calcite, but depending on the crystalline structure of the Calcite, it morphs into minerals called Dolomite or Aragonite with a high silica content.

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* Using the term "turquoise" to describe this material is deceptive and a punishable crime under US Federal Trade Commission regulations! This is a calcite-based rock formation, whereas turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O..
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American Gem Trade Association Gemstone Enhancement Codes

Enhancement: Any treatment process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (color/clarity/phenomena), durability, or availability of a gemstone.

(N) Natural
No modification; natural stones which are not currently known to be enhanced (or currently has no known modification process).