mineral

Turquoise and Hematite

Turquoise (CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O) and Hematite (Fe2O3)

Turquoise: Hardness 5-6, waxy to sub-vitreous luster, triclinic system, blue-green color. Hematite: Hardness 5.5-6.5, metallic luster, hexagonal system, dark grey to black color.

Identified April 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Turquoise: Hardness 5-6, waxy to sub-vitreous luster, triclinic system, blue-green color. Hematite: Hardness 5.5-6.5, metallic luster, hexagonal system, dark grey to black color.

Formation & geological history

Turquoise forms via secondary weathering of copper-rich host rocks in arid regions. Hematite forms through the oxidation of iron-bearing minerals or precipitation from water.

Uses & applications

Predominantly used for ornamental purposes, jewelry beads, and lapidary arts. Hematite is also a major ore of iron.

Geological facts

Turquoise has been mined since at least 3000 BCE in Sinai; hematite is known as 'bloodstone' because it leaves a reddish-brown streak when rubbed on a streak plate.

Field identification & locations

Identify turquoise by its characteristic spider-web matrix or robin's egg blue color; identify hematite by its metallic sheen and heavy weight. Common in the American Southwest, Iran, and China.

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sedimentary

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Nephrite Jade

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Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral