mineral
Turquoise
Hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate (CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O)
Hardness: 5-6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Blue, bluish-green, green. Luster: Waxy to subvitreous. Crystal structure: Triclinic. Specific gravity: 2.60-2.85.
- Hardness
- 5-6 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Blue, bluish-green, green
- Luster
- Waxy to subvitreous
Identified More mineral →
Explore Turquoise in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Blue, bluish-green, green. Luster: Waxy to subvitreous. Crystal structure: Triclinic. Specific gravity: 2.60-2.85.
Formation & geological history
Forms in arid regions as a secondary mineral through the weathering and oxidation of pre-existing copper-bearing minerals, typically in weathered volcanic or sedimentary rocks.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a gemstone in jewelry, decorative carvings, and inlay work.
Geological facts
Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in history, prized by ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Persians, and Native Americans for its protective and ornamental qualities.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive robin's-egg blue or greenish color and often webbed matrix. Found in significant deposits in the Southwestern United States, Iran, China, and Sinai.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
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
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral