The mineral turquoise is formed by a chemical reaction which occurs when water containing specific minerals such as copper and aluminum leak through a rock. It forms in veins, which later then turn into a clump of turquoise. American turquoise is valued by its matrix pattern, color, hardness, and by origin.

Turquoise is the most famous gem in the category of semi-precious gemstones and the Turquoise Mineral Group. Turquoise has so many colors, variety of hardness, and host rock matrix that turquoise itself includes a wide range of properties, therefore many people just identify a few more colors and minerals as turquoise.

The weight of the stone and the Turquoise Quality Index can help us determine how much a stone is really worth. Turquoise is weighed in carats, where 5 carats equals 1 gram. The heavier the stone, the more valuable it is. It is common to see turquoise priced per carat when it is for sale.

Turquoise is naturally a soft stone, but howlite (the turquoise imitation), is even softer. This means that if you scratch your stone and it scratches easily, you most likely have a piece of howlite. But if it’s very difficult to scratch your stone, you’ve got genuine turquoise!

“High-grade turquoise is worth three times the price of gold because it truly is that rare,” he says. “Most of the high grade mined in the ’60s and ’70s continues to trade hands between collectors and jewelers that truly understand its real value.

Stabilized turquoise is widely available and a popular choice for use in jewelry designs. The stone is chemically treated by adding an epoxy resin for increased hardness and enhanced color. With a permanent color and nice matrix, stabilized turquoise is a beautiful value.

Whether you are a very careful person with your jewellery or you prefer to have them with you every day, turquoise is THE stone par excellence. Take care of your turquoise jewelry, and you will keep a stone in good condition.

In Vedic Astrology, Turquoise or Firoza is a gemstone for those who are born under the zodiac sign of Saggitarius or the Dhanu Rashi . It is one of those gemstones which has no side-effects and can be safely worn by any body. …

Purple Mohave Turquoise

What is the difference between Variscite and Turquoise? The main differences between variscite and turquoise is that turquoise is bluer due to its content of copper, where variscite has more of a green color. Variscite and turquoise also differ in hardness on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Turquoise: Contains high levels of copper and Aluminum. Safe for handling but not for use in elixirs. Ulexite: Contains toxic Boron.

Variscite is a rare hydrated aluminum phosphate mineral with a chemical composition of AlPO4•2H2O. It is usually green in color, ranging from yellowish green to bluish green….

Faustite is the zinc rich analogue of turquoise having almost four times as much zinc than copper in its crystal structure. Trivalent (ferric) iron may replace some of the aluminum.

Sleeping Beauty turquoise is noted for its solid, light blue color with no matrix. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is the favorite of Zuni Pueblo lapidaries and silversmiths for the purity in color. This mine was one of the largest in North America. Now, one of the most prolific mines in the US has been closed!

Turquoise is colored by traces of copper, the same element responsible for the green-blue color of Paraiba tourmaline. Its greens can range from shades of bluish-green to apple-green or lime-green. Generally, if turquoise forms with less copper and more aluminum, the material tends to be green.

White turquoise is actually white in color while the stone is still turquoise. And white is the most spiritual of all colors. It contains all of the colors on the spectrum in it – representing enlightenment, knowledge, and transformation. And as you’ll see, healing is the white turquoise spiritual meaning.

The black matrix is called Chert, White Turquoise from the White Buffalo Turquoise mine is found in this material, the Chert often runs in various patterns throughout the white material. Occasionally you will find it in a spiderwebbing pattern which is rare and more valuable.

Chakra. The White Turquoise Stone is so powerful that it can be associated with all the 7 Chakras. Placed on any energy wheel it can regulate unbalanced energy that needs attention.

In terms of luster, it is often dull, with a matte surface in its original state. A little harder than Howlite, it rates 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, still below that of most turquoise. It is often dyed to a light blue color and because of its dark veining, it very closely resembles turquoise.

White Buffalo, although technically not turquoise, is often referred to as turquoise due to its discovery in a turquoise mine. The reason behind its illustrious white color is due to its formation by the same mineralization process, “regular” in which turquoise undergoes.