mineral

Turquoise

Hydrated copper aluminum phosphate, CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O

Hardness: 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Blue, bluish-green, green. Luster: Waxy to subvitreous. Crystal Structure: Triclinic. Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, good in another, but rarely seen. Specific Gravity: 2.60 to 2.90.

Hardness: 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale
Color: Blue, bluish-green, green
Luster: Waxy to subvitreous

Identified August 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in arid regions through the weathering and oxidation of pre-existing copper-bearing minerals, typically in weathered volcanic or sedimentary rocks where descending water percolates through copper-rich aluminum rocks.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, inlay work, and as a collector's gemstone.

Geological facts

Turquoise is one of the world's most ancient gem materials, prized by the ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Native Americans for thousands of years as a talisman of protection and good fortune.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinct robin's-egg blue or greenish-blue color often interspersed with dark brown or black web-like matrix veins. Found in regions such as the southwestern United States, Iran, China, and Sinai.

Other mineral specimens

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments

Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate

sedimentary

Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)

FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)

mineral

Septarian Pebble

Septarian nodule / Concretion

sedimentary

Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)

Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)

mineral

Schist

Metamorphic