King's Mine Turquoise was used in China dating back at least to 1700 BC. This particular kind is dyed purple to enhance its character, with gold matrix running through the veins. Although some Turquoise was mined in China in ancient times, more commonly it was aquired in trade with Monguls, Persians and Turks. Mostly the Chinese used Turquoise for carvings and other art form. Chinese Turquoise is smilar to American Turquoise, in that the mines produce Turquoise in almost every color and matrix variation.