mineral
Turquoise
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Bright blue, bluish-green, to yellowish-green. Luster: Waxy to sub-vitreous. Crystal structure: Triclinic. Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, good in another, but rarely seen. Specific gravity: 2.60 to 2.85.
- Hardness
- 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Bright blue, bluish-green, to yellowish-green
- Luster
- Waxy to sub-vitreous
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 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Bright blue, bluish-green, to yellowish-green. Luster: Waxy to sub-vitreous. Crystal structure: Triclinic. Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, good in another, but rarely seen. Specific gravity: 2.60 to 2.85.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the action of meteoric waters percolating through copper-bearing aluminum-rich rocks, typically in arid environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and inlaid decorative items.
Geological facts
Turquoise is one of the world's most ancient gem materials, prized by ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Persians, and Native Americans for millennia.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its characteristic robins-egg blue or greenish-blue color often veined with dark matrix material (limonite or sandstone). Commonly found in the southwestern United States, Iran, China, and Sinai.
