White Buffalo Bolo Tie

White Buffalo "turquoise" is actually magnesite and alumite. Its unique coloring comes from the presence of calcite in the stone. The only mine known to contain White Buffalo is the Dry Creek Mine in Tonopah, Nevada, which was discovered by the Otteson family in 1993. The stone's name derives from the Native American belief that white buffalo are pure and rare like the stone, which is surrounded by black and brown flint-like chert. This creates beautiful patterns, and sometimes in rare pieces, a spider-web matrix. The stone appears in veins, is as hard as turquoise (Mohs hardness scale of 5.5 to 7.5), and cuts and polishes like turquoise. This bolo tie by Navajo silversmith Rick Tolino features a beautiful piece of White Buffalo with black and white patterning.