How is turquoise mined today?
Most turquoise mining operations are very small, some as small as one family. The mining sites, of course, are very isolated, and living and working conditions are primitive and sometimes dangerous. One advantage modern miners have over previous miners, who worked with hand tools, is a gas generator. To this the miner hooks up a saw with a diamond cutting blade and a machine with a grinding wheel. Using water to cool the cutting blade, the miner cuts away chunks of host stone to get to thetur-I quoise vein. Refined : extraction and shaping of the turquoise is done with the grinding wheel. Final shaping is done arid the piece is backed by epoxy to form a cabo-chon, a cut and polished stone ready for setting. Theepoxy backing helps to protect the stone against chipping and breaking when it is set in silver jewelry and worn. This is all very labor intensive and time consuming. Native American artisans may buy turquoise cabochons directly from miners, but most buy from jewelry supply store
