mineral

Turquoise

CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O

Hardness: 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: distinctive blue, bluish-green, or greenish-gray, often with dark webbed veins (matrix). 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
Luster: waxy to subvitreous

Identified July 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by the chemical action of percolating acidic aqueous solutions during the weathering and oxidation of pre-existing copper-bearing minerals, typically in arid climates within highly altered volcanic or sedimentary host rocks.

Uses & applications

Widely used as a gemstone and ornamental material in jewelry, carvings, and amulets, holding significant cultural value in Native American, Tibetan, and ancient Egyptian traditions.

Geological facts

Turquoise is one of the world's most ancient gem materials, used by the ancient Egyptians as early as 3000 BCE in royal burial jewelry and by indigenous peoples of the American Southwest for sacred ornaments.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its unique robin's-egg blue or greenish-blue color combined with dark matrix webs. Commonly found in mining regions such as the southwestern United States (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico), Iran, China, and Sinai.