mineral

Turquoise

CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8"""""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" • 4H2O (Hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 5-6 Mohs. Color: sky blue to blue-green. Luster: waxy to subvitreous. Crystal system: triclinic (rarely in crystals, usually cryptocrystalline). Cleavage: perfect (rarely observed due to habit).

Color: sky blue to blue-green
Luster: waxy to subvitreous

Identified July 21, 2026More mineral →

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At a glance

Common name: Turquoise
Scientific name: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8"""""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" • 4H2O (Hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate)
Category: mineral
Identified: July 21, 2026
Method: Standard

AI Estimated Value

$2-$10 per gram for common stabilized pieces; $20-$100+ per gram for high-grade natural specimens like Sleeping Beauty or Bisbee.

Not an official valuation

AI estimate for general interest only — not an appraisal. Actual value depends on condition, provenance, and market demand. Verify with a professional before buying, selling, or insuring.

This identification was generated by AI and may contain errors. Verify important details before relying on them — and never use an AI result to judge whether a specimen is safe to handle. Read the full disclaimer

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Secondary mineral formed by the action of percolating acidic solutions during the weathering and oxidation of pre-existing minerals (often copper sulfides) in arid environments.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a gemstone and ornamental stone in jewelry, carvings, and beadwork. Highly valued by Native American cultures for spiritual and artistic purposes.

Geological facts

The name turquoise comes from the French 'turquois' for 'Turkish', as it was first brought to Europe through Turkey. It is one of the oldest gemstones ever mined, with records dating back to ancient Egypt.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unique robin’s egg blue color and waxy appearance; often contains spiderweb-like dark matrix veins. Common in Iran (Nishapur), Southwestern USA (Arizona, Nevada), and China.