Turquoise
Turquoise is an opaque (cannot be seen through), blueish-green mineral. It is not common and can be valuable in finer grades. It has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years because of its interesting coloring.
The word 'turquoise' means Turkish in French.
Turquoise Media
"Big Blue", a large turquoise specimen from the copper mine at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico
Massive Kingman blue turquoise in matrix with quartz from the Mineral Park mine, Arizona, US
Turquoise of Madan-e Olya of Nishapur
Persian turquoise from Iran
A selection of Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) turquoise and orange argillite inlay pieces from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, US (dated c. 1020–1140) show the typical colour range and mottling of American turquoise. Some likely came from Los Cerrillos.
A fine turquoise specimen from Los Cerrillos, New Mexico, US, at the Smithsonian Museum. Cerrillos turquoise was widely used by Native Americans prior to the Spanish conquest.
Bisbee turquoise commonly has a hard chocolate brown coloured matrix.
Untreated turquoise, Nevada, US. Rough nuggets from the McGinness Mine, Austin. Blue and green cabochons showing spiderweb, Bunker Hill Mine, Royston
Trade in turquoise crafts, such as this freeform pendant dating from 1000 to 1040, is believed to have brought the Ancestral Pueblo people of the Chaco Canyon great wealth.
Moche turquoise nose ornament. Larco Museum Collection, Lima, Peru
