mineral
Turquoise
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5-6 on the Mohs scale, exhibiting distinct sky-blue, green, or blue-green colors with a waxy to sub-vitreous luster and a triclinic crystal system.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5-6 on the Mohs scale, exhibiting distinct sky-blue, green, or blue-green colors with a waxy to sub-vitreous luster and a triclinic crystal system.
Formation & geological history
Forms as a secondary mineral through the weathering and oxidation of pre-existing copper-bearing minerals in arid, highly fractured hydrothermal environments.
Uses & applications
Widely utilized in indigenous jewelry, ornamental carvings, and lapidary arts.
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 unique robin's egg blue coloration and webbed matrix patterns; commonly mined in the southwestern United States, Iran, and China.
