TURQUOISE

Turquoise is a beautiful opaque blue-to-green gemstone that has been prized for thousands of years by many cultures for its colour & rarity. It is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, and one of the oldest known gemstones in human history.

GEOGRAPHIC VARIETIES:
Persian (Iranian) --> Bright robin’s egg blue; usually no matrix; very high quality
Sleeping Beauty (USA) --> Light, clear blue; little or no matrix; widely used in fine jewelry.
Kingman (USA) --> Ranges from light to dark blue; spiderweb and mottled varieties.
Bisbee (USA) --> Rich blue with chocolate-brown matrix; highly collectible.
Egyptian Turquoise --> Historically important; often greener and mottled
Tibetan Turquoise --> Deep green-blue with heavy matrix;
Chinese Turquoise --> Oftengreenish-blue; can have dark spiderwebbing; abundant.

COLOUR & VALUE FACTOR:

Colour is the most important value factor
--> Sky blue (robin’s egg blue) is the most prized. Often called "Persian Blu,e" considered most valuable, especially when clean and matrix-free.
--> Greenish or mottled turquoise is less valuable, Rich in iron instead of aluminum, ranges from apple green to moss green. But still beautiful. Intermediate shade; common in American turquoise
Matrix refers to the host rock veining seen in some turquoise; it can be
--> Brown, black, or tan
--> Delicate webbing is sometimes considered desirable

TURQUOISE TREATMENT:
Stabilization: Common to improve durability and colour (with resins or polymers)
Dyeing: Less common, dyed turquoise is much lower in value
Reconstituted Turquoise: Made from crushed turquoise mixed with resin or binder, lower value.
Imitations: Often mimicked with howlite or magnesite dyed blue
Synthetic Turquoise: Man-made with similar chemical composition or appearance as natural turquoise, which is synthesized in a lab by Gilson

BASIC IDENTIFICATION: NATURAL VS SYNTHETIC:
--> Natural turquoise is slightly chalky or waxy to the touch.
--> Hot Needle Test should not melt or emit a plastic smell
--> Acetone wipe should not stain the cloth (indicates no dye)
--> In imitations, it might look painted on or too perfect.
--> Colour is not overly uniform; it often shows natural colour variation or soft zoning.
--> Too bright or even colour may indicate dyeing or synthetic material.
--> Stabilized or synthetic turquoise often feels glassy, plastic-like, or overly polished.

PROFESSIONAL TESTING:
For certainty, take your stone to a gemologist for:
--> Spectroscopy
--> Refractive index measurement
--> X-ray diffraction
--> UV fluorescence (natural turquoise usually doesn’t glow)

MAJOR SOURCES:
Iran (Persia) --> Nishapur mines known for high-quality sky blue turquoise
United States --> Especially Arizona and New Mexico, Sleeping Beauty mine
Egypt --> Ancient mines in the Sinai Peninsula
Tibet & China

TURQUOISE VARIETIES

Turquoise (Iranian)

Iranian Turquoise, also known as Persian Turquoise, is a highly prized variety of turquoise famed for its intensely vivid blue colour, often with minimal veining. Mined primarily in the Nishapur region of Iran, it has been revered for centuries for its rich colour, historical significance, and fine quality.
Key Facts:
Colour --> Sky blue to robin’s egg blue
Luster --> Waxy to subvitreous
Transparency --> Opaque
Matrix -->Often minimal or absent (preferred)

TURQUOISE (pyrites)

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise with Pyrite is a captivating variety of turquoise that contains natural inclusions of pyrite, giving it a unique and visually striking metallic sparkle. These pyrite flecks or veins contrast beautifully with the soft blue to green hues of the turquoise, enhancing its visual texture and appeal.
Key Facts:
Colour --> Sky blue, greenish-blue with turquoise with pyrite or silver metallic flecks

Luster --> Waxy (turquoise) with metallic glints (pyrite)
Transparency --> Opaque
Pyrite Turquoise --> Persian Turquoise, Morenci (Arizona), and occasionally in Chinese or Mexican turquoise

Turquoise (Mexican)

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise (Mexican)

Mexican Turquoise is a colourful and diverse variety of turquoise sourced primarily from the Sierra Madre mountain ranges and surrounding areas. Known for its blue to green tones and distinctive matrix patterns
Key Facts:
Colour --> Blue, greenish-blue, teal, often with brown, black, or reddish matrix
Luster --> Waxy to matte
Transparency --> Opaque
Matrix --> Often strong, with iron or manganese-rich veining

Sonoran Gold Turquoise --> Features lime to teal hues, often with golden brown or pyrite matrix

Turquoise (Tibetan)

Turquoise (Mexican)

Tibetan Turquoise is a culturally significant variety of turquoise known for its deep blue to green hues and prominent dark matrix patterns. Sourced from high-altitude regions in Tibet,
Key Facts:
Colour --> Greenish-blue to deep sky blue, often with dark web-like matrix
Luster --> Waxy to matte
Transparency --> Opaque
Matrix --> Dark brown, black, or spiderweb-like patterns

chines Turquoise

Turquoise (Tibetan)

chines Turquoise

Chinese Turquoise comes in a wide variety of blue to green shades and is known for its rich matrix patterns, including spiderweb, veined, or mottled textures. It is one of the most abundant sources of turquoise in China
Key Facts:
Colour --> Light blue to deep green, often with brown or black matrix
Luster --> Waxy to dull
Transparency --> Opaque
Matrix --> Frequently present, often dramatic

GEMSTONE SPECIES - INORGANIC

TURQUOISE

TURQUOISE VARIETIES

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise (Iranian)

TURQUOISE (pyrites)

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise (Mexican)

Turquoise (Iranian)

Turquoise (Mexican)

Turquoise (Tibetan)

Turquoise (Tibetan)

Turquoise (Mexican)

chines Turquoise

Turquoise (Tibetan)

chines Turquoise

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