metamorphic
African Turquoise (Jasper)
Quartz (SiO2) with impurities (Epidote/Amphibole)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Mottled dark teal-green, blue-green, with dark brown or black spots and veins. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Mottled dark teal-green, blue-green, with dark brown or black spots and veins. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
African Turquoise is actually a form of jasper (a microcrystalline quartz) mined in Africa. It forms through metamorphic/sedimentary processes where silica-rich fluids permeate rock, incorporating various secondary minerals like epidote and amphibole that give it its blue-green hue and dark matrix patterns.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a gemstone in jewelry making, specifically shaped into beads, cabochons, and carved ornaments. Highly popular in artisan and beaded jewelry as an affordable alternative to traditional turquoise.
Geological facts
Despite its trade name, African Turquoise is not true turquoise (which is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate mineral). It is a durable form of jasper that is often treated or dyed slightly to enhance its turquoise-like color, making it much harder and more durable than genuine turquoise.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive bluish-green color interspersed with dark, spiderweb-like matrix patterns and high hardness compared to real turquoise. Found primarily in African countries such as South Africa and Madagascar.
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