Turquoise
Turquoise – ornamental stone
Turquoise is a secondary mineral belonging to the phosphate group. The name of this mineral comes from the word “turques” or “turquoise”, which means “Turkish” and refers to the fact that turquoise was once brought to Europe through Turkey. Sometimes turquoise stones are also called kalait. Turquoise mineral can be found, among others, in Iran, Egypt, the United States, China, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Tanzania. Turquoise stones are formed as fillings in sandstones and shales. Turquoise stone mainly consists of copper and iron. Turquoise’s hardness on the Mohs scale is 6.5-7, and its density is 2.31–2.91 g/cm³. Characteristic features of turquoise stones include a shell-like, uneven fracture, perfect cleavage, and a triclinic crystallographic system. Interestingly, turquoise crystals occur in the form of very fine grains.
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Turquoise – color
Turquoise stones most commonly occur in turquoise, blue, and green colors, but sometimes specimens of yellowish-gray or blueish-green hues can be found. The most valuable specimens are those with a pure and intense blue color. Iron impurities are responsible for the green color, while copper inclusions contribute to the blue color. In some turquoise stones, black, brown, or gray inclusions of other minerals can be observed, creating interesting patterns in the form of veins on the surface of the stones. A characteristic feature of turquoise is a white streak and a waxy, matte luster. Due to its color, turquoise is sometimes mistaken for dyed howlite and magnesite.
Turquoise – application
Since ancient times, natural turquoise has been used as an ornamental stone in the production of amulets, talismans, vases, shields, or sculptures. Interestingly, turquoise stones were also used in ancient Egypt to decorate the funerary mask of Tutankhamun and the interior of his tomb. Considering the relatively rare occurrence of turquoise stones with an ideal, blue color, they are sought-after collector’s items. Currently, turquoise stones are most commonly used in jewelry making, in the production of unique earrings, necklaces, rings, or bracelets. Turquoise in jewelry looks very good when combined with other natural stones such as amazonite, coral, hematite, or rock crystal. In our natural stone store, you will find turquoise cabochons in various sizes.
