Cheap Chinese Turquoise

I RECENTLY WENT TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOPS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA, A SMALL OUT OF THE WAY PLACE NAMED "THE TURQUOISE COYOTE".  I  NOTICED SOME NICE LOOKING LARGE PIECES OF TURQUOISE AT UNUSUALLY LOW PRICES AND INQUIRED ABOUT THEM AND WAS SHOCKED WHEN THE OWNER, A MAN I'VE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS, TOLD ME THEY CAME FROM CHINA.  NO THE TURQUOISE WAS NOT FOUND THERE, BUT IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES.  IT SEEMS THE CHINESE ARE BUYING UP LARGE QUANTITIES OF VERY SMALL TURQUOISE CHIPS AND USING A SPECIAL PROCESS CRUSHING THEM AND THEN COMPRESSING INTO SOMETHING THAT RESEMBLES GREAT LOOKING NATURAL TURQUOISE STONES.  THEY ARE NOT THE REAL THING HOWEVER.  THEY LOOK GOOD BUT ITS LIKE A TWO CARAT DIAMOND MADE FROM DIAMOND DUST.  MANY STORES ARE PASSING THESE FAKES OFF AS THE REAL THING. JUST BE CAREFUL WHEN BUYING JEWELRY WITH LARGE TURQUOISE STONES OR YOU MAY GET THE "MADE IN CHINA" JUNK!!!