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Show HUM PAGE 8 New Interest in an Old Gem Nearly every day someone asks, How do I know if Im Their getting turquoise? second question is usually concerned with some reference to the stones value as an investment. In short, few people know much about turquoise, so a short treatise seems to be in order. ' First of all, in its raw state, turquoise is a dull, unattractive mineral. Chemically, it is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum containing some iron, some calcium, and some silica. Because it is a phosphate it is relatively soft, brittle, porous and absorbant. And. all that means that its owners should take care with it, for it can be ruined. It is not a diamond. Turquoise can be literally destroyed by heat. Even sizzling grease can ruin it. Its color is affected quickly by detergents, and though it takes longer, it will fade by simply wearing it, for it is affected by skin oil and exposure. About here, you may ask why, if it is so delicate, is turquoise now considered so valuable and such a good investment. Simply put, the awakening of our national consciousness with respect to American Indians, the popularity of handmade jewelry and arts and crafts in general, and an article in the Wall Street Journal all seem to play a part in the startling new interest in turquoise. top-grad- With the new popularity, of course, the price of turquoise has skyrocketed, and because most turquoise is set in jewelry, so has the price of Indian jewelry. Everyone remembers that ring he bought some years ago for a couple of bucks. But he should know that the same ring would have tripled in price in the last three years alone. part of the reason for the price increase is due to the fact that turquoise deposits are rarely large. Especially in America. A Few mines produce workable stone for more than a few months. And naturally, because there is a limited supply, the price of American turquoise keeps climbing. Furthermore, as it became more popular, it was impossible for American mines to produce enough stone, so the traders began importing Persian stones to meet the demand. More naturally, Persian stone began to take on a negative connotation. It is, people say, inferior stone. Actually, nothing could be fur- ther from the truth. Persian e stone, especially pieces, is generally of better quality than American, and there top-grad- FINE, HAND WROUGHT GOLD & SILVER Lp JEWELRY rCJ is more of it. Indeed, some mineralogists maintain that very little native stone has ever been equal to the Persian. So no one should feel disgraced to discover that his stone is Persian. However, it is the famous native stone, such as Lone Mountain, Morenci No. 8, and Bisbee, that commands fantastic prices. wum THE ALPINE PROSPECTOR LODGE, TOP OF MAIN STREET and let our Outlaw Cooks Do the Rest $5.95 . 4.9", 5.25 5.25 4.25 3.95 5.25 5.75 RACK OF LAMB MAHI-MAH- I FRIED CHICKEN PRAWNS COMBO HOURS FRI. & SAT. 5:30-11:0- 0 SUN.-THUR- S. 5:30-10:0- top-gra- de one-of-a-ki- nd - HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETS Last Thursday evening in the Memorial Building the Park City chapter of the Utah State Historical Society held a meeting to discuss and plan for future programs with three guests from the State office. Mrs. Niles Andrus, president of the Park City chapter, felt the meeting was a success, and she was encouraged to see a cross section of Park City's residents taking an interest in the Society. The State officers emphasized the importance of starting a program of preservation for not only the historical buildings but also the town history. An assessment should be made of the work already done in these areas to prevent unnecessary duplication of efforts. Over ? weekend in April, the date still to be determined, specialists from the state office will conduct a history workshop in Park City. It will be a seminar-typ- e program to begin teaching local members the how-to- s of seeking and preserving historical sites and stories. There was also discussion about some of the programs that could be implemented,. The possibility of a walking tour through the old town was mentioned. A Park City Museum was also talked about. More members are needed from all age groups and backgrounds. Mrs. Andrus said that anyone interested should contact Mrs. Donald A Ivey :r come to the next meeting.- Meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Memorial Building. - The editor and staff of the PARK CITY COALITION invite your comments or opinions on any of the issues discussed in our newspaper. Please feel free to send us these comments in the form of LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Park City Coalition, P.O. Box 828, Park City, 84060. i: In the 1880s the Silver King was a bonanza mine, today its the name of Park Citys very own bank. We have no branches in other cities. All we care about is you, the people of Park City. Youre the one who will make us grow, just like we hope we can help you grow. Even though were small, we offer every service available in modem hanking. And we offer it to you. Stop by and say hello. 0 Nordic Ski Touring Co. in er over-the-count- Andrus and Dr. Melvin Smith of the Utah State Historical Society admire an old photo of Park City. Mrs. Niles an old name for a new bank Come In and Rope a Sirloin or a Rack of Lamb STEAK-SHRI- MP bli KIN IN PRIME RIB SIRLOIN TERIYAKI Basically, it is because there is very little of it. To get some idea of relative worth, a piece of good Persian stone might sell for fifty cents a carat (200 miligrams). A e piece of Bisbee stone on the other hand, will bring as much as $200 a carat. What makes the difference? Well, rarity, of course, but there is something more. Something the experts call Zat. That property which is something like the water of a diamond or the lustre of a pearl. A fine stone with good color without Zat isnt worth much. In short, a part of the value of a stone is in its sensuous appeal. As an investment, the rare stones are good. For example, a few years ago, a Boston woman paid $18,200 for a string of Lone Mountain Spider Web, a strand of enMorenci, and a three-piec- e weeks few A semble of Bisbee. later, she was offered $18,000 for the Bisbee pieces alone! She didnt sell. But everyone should remember that all which is called Bisbee may not be. In other words, be wary of any dealer who claims to have really rare stones, and who will sell them at a bargain. There are no bargains in rare, turquoise. As Joseph Stacey has pointed out, it is not necessary to learn any more about turquoise than you NEED to know. For common but good colored stones, you need only to judge the stones color and its weight and its Zat. For pieces of investment value, you need exposure and an established dealer who can supply information about the stones history, the jewelers name (who cut the stone), and an insurance appraisal at your request. But if youre after museum specimens, you probably already or you know what you need to wouldnt be buying it. honor of KINS SILVER STATE BANK Snowshoe Thompson Park City - Brighton and Back Friday, March 8th, 8:00 am meet in the G. Ingval Tofson Kran Palace Flophouse Lobby 649-859- 4 8900 P.O. BOX 760 PARK CITY, UTAH 84060 Monday thru Thursday 9am to 5pm Friday 9am to 6pm 165Q Park Avenue Phone 649-805- 2 |