mineral
Turquoise
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 5 to 6, distinctive robin-egg blue to green color, waxy to subvitreous luster, and triclinic crystal system.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 5 to 6, distinctive robin-egg blue to green color, waxy to subvitreous luster, and triclinic crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the chemical action of descending water rich in copper and aluminum percolating through ancient fractured volcanic or sedimentary rocks.
Uses & applications
Widely used in high-end indigenous jewelry, ornamental carvings, and lapidary collections.
Geological facts
Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in history, prized by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Native Americans as an amulet of protection.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its bright blue-to-green coloration and dark web-like matrix veins, typically mined in arid regions such as the southwestern United States.
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Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Limonite
FeO(OH)•nH2O
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Limonite
FeO(OH)•nH2O
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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Feldspar
Feldspar Group (Tectosilicate, e.g., KAlSi3O8)
mineral