mineral
Turquoise
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 5-6 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 (rarely seen as crystals); Specific Gravity: 2.60-2.90
- Hardness
- 5-6 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: 5-6 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 (rarely seen as crystals); Specific Gravity: 2.60-2.90
Formation & geological history
Formed by the action of descending meteoric waters percolating through copper-bearing aluminum rocks, typically in arid or desert climates.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, inlay work, and highly valued by collectors.
Geological facts
Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in history, prized by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Native Americans, and Persians for its protective and ornamental qualities.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive robin's-egg blue or greenish-blue color often webbed with dark matrix lines. Commonly found in the southwestern United States, Iran, China, and Sinai.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary