Let me begin by saying that I appreciated your taking time to discuss these topics with me in Tucson last month—especially when you are already busy with the Show. And I appreciate the introduction to Ed (the turquoise guy).

Of all the folks who go to China and get "inside" the bead business, you are the most successful and the most sharing individual. I can only hope you will continue to detect useful information and to inform us what you learn.

The magnesite issue is very primary now. That is, whether this stuff is routinely reconstructed, how it's done, and the sequence of treatments. (At what point dyed, or reconstructed, or stabilized—and how.)

I was speaking with a mineralogist friend yesterday about these issues, and he told me that (for the fake turquoise industry, some years ago, here in the US), someone was working on a stabilization process that used silica gel as the medium--which had the potential to make the finished product nearly as hard as opal or quartz. (Does that sound familiar?) Since we don't know HOW the current Chinese products are stabilized, it may not be "resin," but perhaps some entirely new process, or combination-process.

In any event, the evidence is clear that something is being done to effectively make soft materials much harder. And it seems likely that a lot of routine reconstruction happens, along with a lot of dying of materials. Put them all together, and voilá—new beads.

Please remain vigilant. We need your help.

Jamey