Turquoise: The Ancient Blue Gem

Turquoise is a rare mineral prized as a gemstone for millennia.

Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium.

The finest turquoise is robin egg blue from Nishapur, Iran.

Turquoise was first brought to Europe through the Ottoman Empire.

Ancient Egyptians mined turquoise in Sinai since 3000 BCE.

Pre-Columbian Native Americans mined turquoise in New Mexico.

Turquoise forms when copper reacts with aluminium in host rocks.

Turquoise usually has a waxy to subvitreous lustre and opaque look.

The mineral nearly never forms single crystals, mostly massive.

Turquoise hardness is slightly less than 6 on the Mohs scale.

Arizona and Nevada are major sources of turquoise in the US.

Sleeping Beauty Mine closed in August 2012, raising turquoise prices.

Sinai turquoise is more translucent and often has dark blue discs.

Turquoise symbolized heaven on earth in ancient Iranian architecture.