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White
Turquoise ( Dry Creek Turquoise, White Buffalo Stone, Sacred Buffalo Stone) is
technically not turquoise at all, but a similar stone that is white with black
and brown inclusions. By definition turquoise contains copper (it is a copper
aluminium phosphate), which is what gives the characteristic blue color. Presence
of iron will shift the color toward green.
"White turquoise", which has no copper and no blue color, is more accurately called White Buffalo Stone. As far as we know, White Buffalo Stone comes from only one mine in Nevada, which is owned by the Otteson family. Howlite is commonly passed off as White Buffalo Stone.
The following article is reprinted here for historical interest.
DRY
CREEK TURQUOISE
Reprinted
from Rockhound Gazette, December 2000
Also
knows as "White Turquoise"or "Sacred Buffalo Turquoise", Dry
Creek Turquoise has a characteristic white or very pale blue color with brown
flecks in it almost like confetti. Because white turquoise is as rare as the white
buffalo, it is sometimes referred to as Sacred Buffalo Turquoise. White turquoise
was found in the Dry Creek Mine near Battle Mountain, Nevada. The mine is closed.
This stone is very rare and collectible.
When discovered in the Dry Creek Mine (Note: not it's name today) in the Shoshone Indian Reservation near Battle Mountain, Nevada in 1993, they (the discoverers) were not sure what it was. Because of its hardness, it was decided to have it assayed. Their suspicious proved correct. It was, in fact, white turquoise. It was not until 1996, however, that it was finally made into jewelry.
The Shoshone Indians are not known for jewelry work and, as a consequence, the Shoshone sell or trade the white turquoise to the Navaho in Arizona who work it into jewelry. Because white turquoise is as rare as the white buffalo, some Indians call it "White Buffalo" turquoise.
Important Note - There is much white with black matrix stone sold that is actually howlite, which is not turquoise at all. It is often from Mexico or Mexican made and is often referred to as White Buffalo Turquoise - so you can see the confusion between the authentic and rare Dry Creek White Turquoise and "White Buffalo" faux turquoise that is being marketed. Be aware and beware !
Turquoise
gets its color from the heavy metals in the ground where it forms. Blue turquoise
forms where there is copper present (most Arizona turquoise). Green turquoise
forms where iron is present (most Nevada turquoise). White turquoise, where there
are no heavy metals
present, turns out to be rare. To date no other vein of white turquoise has been
discovered anywhere else. When this current vein runs out that will be the last
of it.