Sterling Silver Turquoise and Coral Inlaid Turtle Stud Earrings

Turquoise (or turquois or Turqoise or Turquise) is a semi-precious stone with a color ranging from blue to green yellow. The best turquoise is deep blue.

The term turquoise comes probably from a degeneration of "Turkish" (Turkois, Turkesa or Turkey Stone) because the turquoise water color is present in the coasts of Turkey.

Turquoise is broadly by Native American to make the so-called Indian jewelry. Turquoise is also often associated with the Middle East and the American Southwest, although tibetan, chinese or persian tourquoise gems are also famous. The Navajo prized turquoise because they believed it brings them closer to their gods and protected them from harm. The Aztecs wore turquoise to show their ranks.

Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of aluminum with a small percentage of copper giving its blue color. Teal, blue-green, and aqua are all synonyms of turquoise. Sacred Buffalo Turquoise is known as white turquoise, but is not to be confused with white buffalo, aka howlite. Variscite, the hydrated phosphate of aluminum, is sometimes used as a substitute for turquoise.

Purple Turquoise is not genuine turquoise. It is dyed natural turquoise or reconstituted Turquoise obtained by grinding turquoise stone and mixing it with red dye resin. African turquoise is an exotic blend named 'african' because of its varied colors from blue and green to brown, red or pink.

Turquoise color

Traces of iron makes its color greenish. Turquoise is opaque and has a waxy luster. In some cases, the pores of the turquoise stone are filled with a transparent substance such as plastic, mineral oil or paraffin wax to improve the color and make it more desirable. High-quality turquoise has a permanent color, but waxy turquoise seldom keeps its color. Exposure to heat or sunlight is also injurious to the color of the turquoise.

Turquoise was used extensively in jewelry at the end of the 18th century and during the 19th, but continues to be quite popular because of its affordable price. It has a sweet feminine feel, while darker shades are often more sophisticated and elegant.

Authentic southwestern american turquoise mines

Some famous american turquoise mines include Carico Lake, Castle Dome - Pinto Valley Turquoise, Damale mine, The Dry Creek mine, Fox mine, Sleeping Beauty Turquose Mine, The Lone Mountain mine also known as Blue Jay Mine, Morenci Turquoise, Turquoise Mountain mine, White buffalo, Royston Turquoise mine, Kingman turquoise mine, Pilot Mountain mine, Manassa turquoise mine, Bisbee mine. They are mostly located in Arizona, Nevada or New Mexico.