Turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate mineral renowned for its distinctive blue to green coloration and opaque, waxy appearance that has made it one of humanity's oldest gemstones. This ancient stone forms in arid regions through the weathering of copper deposits and has been treasured for over 7,000 years by civilizations from ancient Egypt to Native American tribes, who considered it sacred and protective. Turquoise often displays a characteristic matrix of host rock veining in brown, black, or gold, creating unique spiderweb patterns that add to its natural beauty and authenticity.
Specifications:
- Color range: Sky blue to robin's egg blue, blue-green, and green with natural matrix patterns in various colors
- Hardness: 5 to 6 on Mohs scale
- Origin: Primarily Iran (finest quality), Arizona and Nevada USA, China, Mexico, Tibet, and Afghanistan
- Sizes: Available from small 4mm cabochons to large 40mm+ specimens; beads commonly range from 6mm to 20mm
- Shapes: Oval and round cabochons, nugget beads, freeform pendants, carved objects, and rough specimens
- Transparency: Opaque with occasional translucent areas in high-quality specimens
- Luster: Waxy to sub-vitreous when polished, creating smooth lustrous surfaces
- Treatments: Often stabilized with polymers to improve durability; natural untreated specimens are increasingly rare
