mineral

Turquoise

Turquoise, CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O

Hardness 5-6 (Mohs); Color: Sky blue to blue-green; Luster: Waxy to subvitreous; Crystal Structure: Triclinic (usually cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: Perfect (rarely seen); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9

Color: Sky blue to blue-green
Luster: Waxy to subvitreous

Identified June 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness 5-6 (Mohs); Color: Sky blue to blue-green; Luster: Waxy to subvitreous; Crystal Structure: Triclinic (usually cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: Perfect (rarely seen); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.9

Formation & geological history

Formed by the percolation of acidic aqueous solutions through preexisting minerals, typically in arid volcanic or sedimentary environments. It is a secondary mineral.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry, decorative carvings, and as a popular collector's mineral.

Geological facts

Turquoise has been prized for millennia, found in the burial masks of Egyptian pharaohs and used extensively by Native American tribes in the Southwest United States.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unique sky-blue hue and the presence of a 'matrix' (veins of host rock). Commonly found in the US (Arizona, Nevada), Iran, and China. Collectors should look for natural, untreated stones versus stabilized or dyed ones.