mineral
Turquoise in Matrix
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 5 to 6, distinctive robins-egg blue to green color, waxy to sub-vitreous luster, and triclinic crystal system.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 5 to 6, distinctive robins-egg blue to green color, waxy to sub-vitreous luster, and triclinic crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the supergene alteration of pre-existing copper-bearing minerals in arid climates, often hosted in limonite or sandstone.
Uses & applications
Extensively used as a gemstone in jewelry, decorative carvings, and ceremonial items.
Geological facts
Turquoise is one of the world's most ancient gemstones, prized by the ancient Egyptians and Native Americans for millennia.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its signature blue color contrasting against a dark limonite host rock, commonly mined in the southwestern United States and Iran.
