I have no problem with stabilized material, I just try to never buy it because that is my preference. That said, here are some sites to fact check on stabilized Turquoise that seem reliable. Many sellers (Coolbaugh) sell material listed as natural that is stabilized. Many other sellers just have no idea they are selling stabilized rough. I have gone to Tucson as a dealer and purchased in the Dealer's Only areas. The consensus was that almost all Turquoise available on the open market is stabilized or treated in some manner. That does not mean it is bad.
PS: I use glues to make doublets and triplets. It is an extremely rare case that I stabilize or treat any stone and I always declare it if I do.
http://www.theturquoisechick.com/stabilized_turquoise_facts.htmhttp://www.turquoiseguide.com/articles/turquoise/turquoise-basics/treated-turquoise.htmThe below is from Fire Mountains which is a very honest disclosure.
There are many different enhancements applied to turquoise stones and each treatment should be clearly identified by the seller through the standardized enhancement codes of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA).
When selling turquoise, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads uses these standard enhancement codes:
(D) or (dyed) to indicate when turquoise has been dyed
(S) or (stabilized) to note if the turquoise has been stabilized
(N) or (natural) to denote a gemstone that has not been dyed, stabilized or had other enhancements applied
There is also reconstituted turquoise. Reconstituted turquoise is made from ground-up turquoise such as pieces that are lost during the cutting process. There is usually very little natural stone in reconstituted turquoise, instead containing mostly resin and dyes. This is often called "block" turquoise and is considerably cheaper than other turquoise stones.
What is Stabilized Turquoise?
Most turquoise sold for use in jewelry-making is stabilized. There are three main stabilization treatments currently applied to turquoise stones:
Paraffin polish
Polyresin polish
Impregnation of a colorless bonding agent--commonly plastic--for basic stabilization. This stabilization increases the durability, hardness, chemical resistance and uniform appearance of the turquoise. Stabilization frequently darkens the color and gives the stone a glossy appearance--a handy way to identify basic stabilized turquoise.
A fourth stabilized turquoise method, reserved for high-grade varieties of turquoise, is called the Zachery process, which does not use artificial additives such as plastic or dyes and can only be detected at the molecular level. The time-consuming treatment results in a more dense stone that takes a better polish and is resistant to discoloration over time.
Types of Turquoise
