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Mineral

Turquoise

Phosphate Minerals

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone for millennia because of its hue. The word dates to the 16th century and derives from the Old French turquois, meaning Turkish, because the mineral was first brought to Europe through the Ottoman Empire from mines in the historical Khorasan province of Iran. In this atlas it is the mineral species that the gemstone turquoise records.

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone for millennia because of its hue. The word dates to the 16th century and derives from the Old French turquois, meaning Turkish, because the mineral was first brought to Europe through the Ottoman Empire from mines in the historical Khorasan province of Iran. In this atlas it is the mineral species that the gemstone turquoise records.

Facts
Chemical Formula
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O 1
Chemical Formula
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O 1
Hardness (Mohs)
5.5 1
Commonly cited range is 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale; 5.5, the midpoint, is used here.
Hardness (Mohs)
5.5 1
Commonly cited range is 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale; 5.5, the midpoint, is used here.
Colour
Green 2
Colour
Green 2
Colour
Blue or Purple 2
Colour
Blue or Purple 2
Lustre
Earthy 2
Lustre
Earthy 2
Lustre
Waxy or Greasy 2
Lustre
Waxy or Greasy 2
Classification
Strunz Class
Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates 1
Strunz Class
Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates 1
Crystal System
Triclinic 1
Crystal System
Triclinic 1
Use
Gemstone 1
Use
Gemstone 1
Connections

Caused By

Hydrothermal Mineral Deposition, Processes
Source Turquoise (Wikipedia)
Supergene Processes, Processes
Source Turquoise (Wikipedia)

Crystallizes In System

Triclinic Crystal System, Concepts
Triclinic Crystal System, Concepts

In Discipline

Mineralogy, Disciplines
In the Other Atlases

Mineral Species Of

Turquoise

Also in Divinity Atlas: of this mineral species.

Found In

Chile

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Geology.com: Turquoise gemstone and mineralArticle text
Quote, Article text
turquoise rough is currently produced in the southwestern United States , China , Chile , Egypt , Iran , and Mexico
China

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Geology.com: Turquoise gemstone and mineralArticle text
Quote, Article text
turquoise rough is currently produced in the southwestern United States , China , Chile , Egypt , Iran , and Mexico
Egypt

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Geology.com: Turquoise gemstone and mineralArticle text
Quote, Article text
turquoise rough is currently produced in the southwestern United States , China , Chile , Egypt , Iran , and Mexico
Iran

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Geology.com: Turquoise gemstone and mineralArticle text
Quote, Article text
the famous high-quality material mined in the area that is now known as Iran
Mexico

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Geology.com: Turquoise gemstone and mineralArticle text
Quote, Article text
turquoise rough is currently produced in the southwestern United States , China , Chile , Egypt , Iran , and Mexico
United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Geology.com: Turquoise gemstone and mineralArticle text
Quote, Article text
turquoise rough is currently produced in the southwestern United States , China , Chile , Egypt , Iran , and Mexico
Sources
1. Turquoise (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Turquoise, lead paragraph
    is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium
  • Turquoise, article text
    It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone for millennia due to its hue.
View the Source
2. minerals.net: Turquoise
minerals.net
  • Color field
    Turquoise-blue, sky-blue, bluish-green, apple-green
  • Luster field
    Waxy, dull
View the Source
Turquoise (Wikipedia)
  • Caused By: Supergene Processes, Formation
    Turquoise is a secondary or supergene mineral, not present in the original copper porphyry.
  • Caused By: Hydrothermal Mineral Deposition, Formation
    However, a typical turquoise deposit begins with hydrothermal deposition of copper sulfides.
View the Source
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