Indian Arts and Crafts Act

U.S. Department of the Interior

The State of New Mexico’s Indian Arts and 

Crafts Sales Act, unlike the federal Indian 

Arts and Crafts Act, requires the seller to 

disclose in writing the type of materials 

used. Under New Mexico law, a seller’s 

failure to give the required written disclosure 

to a consumer violates the State law and 

may entitle the consumer to a repayment of 

the purchase price upon the return of the 

item. For more information, please consult 

www.nmag.gov or call 1-800-678-1508.

For a free brochure on the Indian Arts and 

Crafts Act, including how to file a complaint 

about the fraudulent marketing of Indian art 

and craftwork, contact:

INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS BOARD

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240

1-888-ART-FAKE WWW.IACB.DOI.GOV 

IACB@IOS.DOI.GOV

TAKE HOME A TREASURE FROM 

INDIAN COUNTRY – BUY WORKS 

PRODUCED BY MEMBERS OF 

FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES

Note: All photographs within the brochure and inset 

on the front cover are the property of the

Turquoise Museum, Albuquerque, NM, and are 

reproduced and used with their permission.

Cover photograph is the property of the

Indian Arts and Crafts Board 

Single Strand Necklace:

John Shopteese, Potawatomi

Quadruple Strand Necklace:

James Del Coriz, Santo Domingo Pueblo.

MINES

The value and price of turquoise is also determined 

by the reputation of the mine and the rarity of the 

turquoise. Many mines, such as Lone Mountain, 

#8, Lander Blue, and Bisbee mines, are highly 

regarded for the color, matrix, and history of 

the turquoise they contain. The most commonly 

marketed American turquoise is from the Sleeping 

Beauty and Kingman mines in Arizona. 

BUYING TIPS

• When purchasing from a dealer, choose one 

with a good reputation. 

• Examine the color, clarity, and matrix of the 

turquoise.

• Request a written receipt that includes all the 

vital information about your purchase, including:

- name of artist and their Tribal affiliation

- name of the mine from which the turquoise 

was extracted

- whether the turquoise is natural, stabilized, or 

treated

- where the stone was purchased

- price of the turquoise piece

- date of the purchase

- business address where piece was purchased.

• Realize that authentic handmade pieces may be 

expensive...if a price seems too good to be true, 

be sure to ask more questions about the item 

and its maker.
Turquoise is 

considered 

treated* when it 

has been -

Oiled or waxed – 

soaked or cooked in 

oil or wax to darken 

the color

Enhanced – a patented process to darken the 

color of low or medium grade turquoise to imitate 

a higher grade color

Stabilized – turquoise combined with colorless 

resins (plastics) under a vacuum or pressure to 

harden the stone and darken the color

Blocked – chips and fragments are mixed with 

epoxy to form blocks for cutting

Dyed – a pigment is added to deepen the stone’s 

color or create a “matrix” design within a treated 

stone

*New Mexico law provides more detailed definitions for materials.

CLARITY AND MATRIX

Uniformity of color, clarity and matrix determines 

the value of turquoise. The higher grade turquoise 

has greater clarity and deeper color. If a matrix 

is present, it will appear as tiny veins or dots of 

other rock within the turquoise, which can be 

golden, brown, black, white, or sienna in color. 

An evenly distributed matrix is desired. The rarest 

matrix, “spider web” turquoise, has a natural and 

uniform matrix that is evenly laced throughout the 

gemstone. 

Natural turquoise is the stone that comes 

directly from the earth without any treatments or 

enhancements. This picture shows a polished 

natural stone on top of a natural rough stone.

Approximately 15% of the world’s turquoise 

supply is natural turquoise. The value of 

natural turquoise is derived 

from its rarity of color, 

clarity/matrix, and mine 

source.

When retrieved 

from the earth, 

approximately 85% 

of the turquoise is too 

soft to cut or polish. 

It can, however, be 

processed to enhance 

the color and increase 

the hardness of the stone.

DENSITY AND COLOR

Density and/or hardness add to the depth of 

color. Natural blue and green turquoise stones 

are the most sought after and have many color 

variations. However, neither of these two colors is 

more valuable than the other. The most common 

turquoise color is white. White turquoise, referred 

to as “chalk,” is generally too soft to cut or polish 

and is not typically graded as a gemstone. Chalk 

and low grade turquoise have open pores within 

their structures and can only be used when 

“treated” to enhance hardness, density, color, 

clarity, or matrix.

The federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act (Act) of 

1990, Public Law 101-644, as amended, is a 

truth-in-marketing law administered by the Indian 

Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the 

Interior. Under the Act, it is illegal to offer or 

display for sale, or sell, any art or craft 

product in a manner that falsely 

suggests it is Indian produced, an 

Indian product, or the product of 

a particular Indian Tribe. Indian 

labor makes art or craftwork an 

Indian product.

Turquoise is one of the most 

widely used gemstones in Indian 

jewelry and ornamentation. 

While the use of materials, such as 

turquoise, in the production of Indian 

art or craftwork is not within the scope of 

the Act, turquoise is an important topic to many 

Indian arts and crafts consumers, particularly 

in the Southwest. Therefore, as a consumer 

education service, and in support of New 

Mexico’s Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act, which 

does include turquoise standards and disclosure 

requirements, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board 

has collaborated with Mr. Joe Dan Lowry, of the 

Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 

to provide you with the following information.

IS IT NATURAL?

Most consumers will ask if the turquoise is “real,” 

but the question to ask is if it is “natural” turquoise. 

Chalk 

turquoise 

and treated 

turquoise 

beads

Stabilized turquoise white 

to blue and green 

(before and after treatment)

Gradations of turquoise color