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| December- Turquoise | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hardness- 5-6 Crystal Structure- triclinic Color- from dark bluish to greenish Chemical formula- CuAl^6(PO^4)(OH)^8*5H^2O |
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| Turquoise is Hydrated Copper Aluminum Phospate. It is very rarly found in a crystal form like other gems. It is most often hydrated and looks like the pictures on this page. Turquoise crystals are mostly microscopic, because of this turquoise is almost never used in jewelery in its crystal form. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turquoise has been mined since 6000 B.C. High quality turquoise is mined in Iran, but the Southwest U.S. is also know for its quality turquoise. Everyone from the Egyptians to the Native Americans used turquoise for jewelery and on clothing. Turquoise is said to be the most valuable nontransparent gem. It is formed only in desert, arid climates. Turquoise is deposited from circulating water. When the water drys up, turquoise begins to form. The dark places, best seen in the above left picture are aluminum rich sedimentary rock or volcanic rock. |
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