A complete description of turquoise: meaning, types, lithotherapy and the magic of natural stone

The “Skystone” turquoise is experiencing a surge in popularity today, last seen in the 1970s. Many jewelry and fashion designers include this stone in their “creative repertoire.”

Turquoise is usually perceived as an accessible material. Almost every woman has at least one piece of jewelry with a characteristic greenish-bluish insert in her jewelry box.

However, buyers more experienced in mineralogy know that products with real, natural turquoise are quite rare. They are not mass produced and can be extremely expensive, despite the fact that turquoise belongs to the category of jewelry and semi-precious stones and does not initially have a high cost. The reason is that the reserves of this mineral in nature are limited. Only a small number of known deposits supply turquoise, and even these mines do not last long.

Meaning and description of the stone

The turquoise stone is called the stone of winners (from “piruz”). The word “turquoise” is translated as “stone of happiness” (from “firyuze”). The name was given in the 13th century. The main meaning is to increase the strength, luck, and intelligence of the owner. The mineral is also identified with immortality.

What does turquoise look like?

Natural turquoise has a wide palette of shades from bright blue, greenish to white, the shine of the stone is matte. The difference in color is explained by the age of the mineral:

• young - white or pale blue;
• mature – bright blue or turquoise;
• old - green, green-blue, gray, brown.

The changes are associated with constantly ongoing processes inside the stone - copper oxide is slowly replaced by iron oxide. At first the stone turns green, then turns brown.

Upon examination, white and dark dots and veins are noticeable. The former appear due to the presence of kaolinite and halloysite, the latter - due to iron oxide, quartz, and pyrite.

The stone is in most cases opaque. About 10% of mined turquoise can be classified as precious stones. These specimens are deep blue, translucent and highly prized. The remaining 90% are semi-precious.

To watch a video review about turquoise:

Varieties and colors of the mineral

Varieties of gems are distinguished according to the principles of diversity of colors and places of extraction, which makes it easier for jewelers, collectors and other people close to the life of the stone to understand each other.

Shades of turquoise:

• green – the color is due to the large amount of iron in the stone;
• white – the youngest state of the mineral, rare;
• blue - the brightest of all types, practically does not contain iron, the composition is dominated by copper;
• pink – not found in nature, obtained by coloring pale minerals or howlite;
• blue – rare, interesting to lovers of amulets, talismans, and collectors; the most valuable shade;
• pink - obtained by dyeing pale turquoise or howlite;
• red - an old stone, reddened due to an increase in the amount of copper or obtained artificially by coloring.

Where turquoise is mined:

• Arizona - bright blue, the most expensive - the price for 1 carat starts from $500 for wholesale buyers;
• Tibetan - mined in Tibet, has an exceptional variety of shades, including rare cobweb and green;
• Kazakhstani - the youngest, specimens are pale, soft, valued lower than others;
• Israeli - a rare green variety, mined mainly in Israel;
• Iranian - considered the leader in color and beauty, the hardest;
• Persian is the old name for Iranian turquoise.

There are some inaccuracies in the name that can confuse an uninitiated person:

• turquoise is called Turkish stone, but it was only imported to Turkish markets and was never mined in Turkey;
• dyed jasper, imitation of a soft turquoise color, called “African turquoise”, has no relation to Africa.

A separate type is pressed (restored or reconstructed) turquoise - pressed, crushed substandard.

Another type of turquoise is synthetic. This is an analogue of natural stone, obtained using nanotechnology. The main type of cut of turquoise is cabochon.

What do we see on the shelves?

Let's look at turquoise in detail:

Raw turquoise, Nevada, USA. Raw nuggets from the McGuinness Mine, Austin. Blue and green web cabochons, Bunker Hill Mine, Royston

Expert opinion

Semenishcheva Polina

Specialist in mineralogy. Graduated from St. Petersburg Mining University.

FYI : Jewelry is mostly made from pressed turquoise. It is more durable, brighter, shiny than natural.

History and origin of turquoise

The mineral has been known to people for 7 thousand years. The first deposits were found on the island of Sinai, where slaves were sent to mine the gem. The stone was then supplied to Suez.

Turquoise was discovered on primitive jewelry during excavations of ancient burials in Egypt. The gem was brought to Europe from Turkey, which is why it was called Turkish stone. She made inlays on the throne of B. Godunov.

I. the Terrible often held the gem in his palms, showing others the change in its color.

The stone was attributed special significance in the world of magic:

• Turkish warriors wore amulets to protect themselves and their horses during hostilities;
• travelers considered them their patron on the road, helping to preserve property and resist theft;
• Arabs and Persians decorated their weapons, believing that the stone would change color in case of danger;
• in Ancient Egypt it served as material for the manufacture of sacred scarab beetles;
• among the Aztecs, the gem was used to perform rituals and decorated masks;
• a medieval lady sewed turquoise onto the clothes of her chosen one so that he would fall in love with her forever.

The formation of the mineral occurs in sedimentary rocks under the influence of certain temperatures, oxidation, and weathering. It occurs in the form of cryptocrystalline dense masses, small round inclusions or in the form of a cluster, crusts.

Chinese figurines

What the turquoise deposits of China are geologically is little known to the world scientific community. But Chinese carved turquoise items, figurines of people and animals, incense bottles, and snuff boxes are famous throughout the world. The appearance of miniature figurines is often determined by the natural shape of the turquoise nugget. In Chinese deposits, nuggets are usually accretions of rounded formations - nodules. The diameter of one nodule ranges from a few millimeters to 1 - 2 cm. Sometimes (extremely rarely) you come across individual roundness 5 - 8 cm in size. Often a turquoise clump resembles a hedgehog. The relatively large nodule is completely covered with small nodules. This happens because one crystal that appears in the rock serves as a seed for the formation of subsequent ones. Stone cutters free turquoise from large pieces of accompanying rock, and try to introduce smaller inclusions into the artistic design. Here is a description of a particularly successful figurine made at a stone-cutting factory in Nanyang:

...A small girl, about 3 centimeters tall, gracefully arched, dressed in loose clothes, tied at the waist with a belt. The artist who made it said that the rotation of the head and upper body, as well as the slightly retracted arm, are due to the shape of the turquoise nodule. The belt was especially beautiful. Along it, intertwining with the curves of turquoise clothing, ran a golden-brown thread - a former limonite vein. This belt hangs loosely over the folds of the full skirt and ends with a very striking golden-brown tassel. This entire figure is a legacy of the shape of the original clump of raw turquoise. It consisted of several nodules, between which a thin zone of intermediate brown ironstone protruded deep into the thickness of the turquoise. The artist's skill turned a defect in the stone - a brown zone - into its decoration.

Where is turquoise mined and how is it processed?

Main stone quarrying centers:

• America;
• Iran;
• Mexico;
• Afghanistan;
• Armenia;
• Brazil;
• Turkmenistan.

Due to its low hardness, the mineral is poorly suited to any processing, including cutting. Grinding is also not applicable to gemstones. It is inserted into jewelry as a round cabochon or made into beads.

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THROUGH THORNS TO THE STARS

Tamerlane created a great empire in the lands of Central Asia and made Samarkand his capital. During the life of the great ruler, grandiose palaces, mosques, and mausoleums were built in Samarkand, the uniqueness of which is confirmed today by UNESCO.

Further prosperity of the city continued under the descendants of the ruler from the Timurid family. Tamerlane's grandson Ulugbek was an outstanding astronomer and mathematician; in 1437 he was able to calculate with unprecedented accuracy the length of the sidereal year - 365 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds, and the error was less than a minute. He also determined the tilt of the Earth's axis.

The calculations were made at the largest observatory of the Middle Ages. You can look at it, or rather at what has survived to this day - a cyclopean staircase with the arc of a giant quadrant - on Kukhak Hill on the outskirts of Samarkand. Already during Ulugbek’s lifetime, his scientific works were known throughout the world.

How to distinguish natural turquoise from a fake at home

This natural mineral is rarely found on the market. The demand for the stone is high, the price is high, so fake or artificially obtained specimens are sold under the guise of a natural gem.

Alchemist Agricola wrote back in the 16th century: “No other precious stone can be imitated so indistinguishably as turquoise...”.

The oldest imitation was made 4000 years ago in Egypt using painted glass. Tutankhamun's beads were also fake.

To improve the appearance of the stone, exposure to chemicals is used, while its properties are preserved.

1. Stabilization is due to the ability of the mineral to absorb chemical compounds. To give it a waxy shine, it is soaked in epoxy resin or paraffin.
2. Coloring - the gem is immersed in a solution of dyes of an unnatural color for it. After this, it acquires pink, purple, and red colors. This is mainly done in China. The structure of the stone does not change. Another name is refined turquoise.

They learned how to create the mineral 100 years ago. There are 2 ways to do this:

1. A stone that is chemically identical to natural is obtained by alloying aluminum hydroxide and copper phosphate. The result is a bright blue specimen, less often with a yellow tint.
2. Pressing turquoise fragments; other rocks can be added to increase volume and reduce cost. The resulting samples are similar to the original, it is difficult to distinguish.

The most common method of counterfeiting is imitation turquoise. For this we use:

• painted plastic;
• colored caulite (calcium borosilicate);
• glass;
• burnt alabaster or plaster;
• turquenite (a type of caulite);
• other stones similar to turquoise: chalcedony, jasper, magnesite, odontolite and others.

Fake stones wear out quickly and do not have the physical, healing, and magical properties of natural turquoise.

A method for producing nanoturquoise was invented in Russia. Under the influence of a certain temperature and humidity, artificial crystals are obtained. Production is cheaper than originals and always guarantees results, unlike excavations.

In terms of physical and chemical qualities, synthetic stones are identical to natural ones, but do not have healing and magical qualities. If these aspects are not important to the buyer, then artificial turquoise is a worthy replacement for natural one.

A well-executed imitation is difficult to recognize; fakes are cheaper and easier. The main ways to find the differences between natural stone and fake:

1. If you wipe the product with water or alcohol, some of the paint may remain on the rag. This will indicate the cheapest fake.
2. When mechanical damage is caused by a needle, a white furrow will remain - the paint on the fake will be erased.
3. When exposed to temperature, the plastic begins to melt and emit a chemical smell; it is easily pierced with a hot needle or awl. A real mineral will crack when exposed to extreme heat.
4. Fake beads will give themselves away by a change in color near the holes. If the beads on the fishing line are lighter, then it is not the original.
5. Natural gemstones are often small; larger specimens have a non-uniform color. Large homogeneous stones - imitation or turquenite.
6. The fake has a glassy sheen and a dense surface. Turquoise has a matte shine and a porous structure.
7. If you look at the glass imitation through a magnifying glass, you will find small air bubbles.
8. Real turquoise is expensive. If the price is suspiciously low, then you should refrain from purchasing.

In addition to the topic, watch the video:

"Turquoise Cities" of Pre-Columbian America

In our imagination, turquoise is primarily associated with the East, but the sky-blue mineral was also well known and highly valued in ancient America. The richest deposits are known in the southwestern United States, in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Colorado. Most of them were developed long before the advent of the conquistadors. In the XI-XII centuries. In the mountains of the southwest there was a thriving civilization, the basis of which was the trade in the “heavenly stone”. A striking monument to this lost culture known as the Anasazi is Pueblo Bonito in New Mexico.

Photo: www.izuminki.com

Pueblos are peculiar fortified cities, consisting of rectangular living quarters, closely pressed against each other and often forming several floors or terraces. They are found in many areas of the North American Southwest. Pueblo Bonito has approximately 600 individual "apartments". Apparently, its permanent population was several thousand people. By Western European standards of that time, it was a pretty decent city. Additionally, as an important commercial and religious center, Pueblo Bonito attracted tens of thousands of visitors. Outside the pueblo, small mines and individual farms are scattered, equipped with an artificial irrigation system. Apparently, the fields were regularly fertilized with organic waste. But no matter how skilled farmers the Anasazi Indians were, the area of ​​arable land in these parts is too small to supply even the permanent population with the necessary food, not to mention the numerous guests. Obviously, farms played only a supporting role. The source of Pueblo Bonito's prosperity was the turquoise trade. This mineral was a favorite decorative material of many Native American peoples; it was often given sacred meaning, and in addition, it served as a universal equivalent and acted as money. Researchers believe that surrounding farmers brought excess food to Bonito and received turquoise plates for it, which, if necessary, could be exchanged for any product they needed.

The main trading partner of Pueblo Bonito was the Toltec state that existed in central Mexico. Legends have been preserved about the beauty and luxury of their capital Tollan (or Tula). It was said that every house in Tollan was decorated with beautiful turquoise mosaics, and in the main temple, dedicated to the Feathered Serpent Quetzalcoatl, the walls of one of the four halls, facing the west, were completely lined with turquoise.

Later (around the 14th century), the Mixtec Indians became famous for their skillful turquoise mosaics. They are also found in the cities of the Aztecs and Mayans. But not only the developed civilizations of the south were consumers of turquoise. Judging by some archaeological finds, hunters for blue stones reached Pueblo Bonito even from the shores of the Great Lakes.

Excavations at Bonito have yielded extremely rich results. Tens of thousands of turquoise items were found here: beads, pendants, amulets, religious objects, as well as a basket filled to the brim with the precious stone. Along with finished products, semi-finished products were exported - thin turquoise plates, which later served as material for mosaics and inlays. A quarry with a depth of 60-90 m and many smaller workings have been preserved. The dumps occupy an area of ​​about 8 hectares. But Bonito was very wealthy, but far from the only bluestone trading center in the American southwest.

Turquoise with quartz Photo: www.izuminki.com

The Anasazi culture reached the peak of its prosperity at the end of the 11th century, and disasters began in the 12th century. First of all, the richest turquoise mines began to be developed in Arizona and Nevada. The Anasazi lost their monopoly position, and the turquoise market suffered significant inflation. Then the main trading partner, the Toltec state, was mired in the abyss of civil war, and there was no time for jewelry. The matter was completed by a severe drought that lasted 50 years. Tiny patches of arable land, lovingly cultivated by the Indians, ceased to produce the required minimum harvest. There was a severe food shortage. And it was difficult to fully supply the city with imported products, given the vehicles available to the Indians and the greatly fallen prices for turquoise. At the beginning of the 13th century. The "turquoise cities" of the Anasazi were abandoned by their inhabitants. Those who lived in these areas later retained only a vague memory of their predecessors, calling them evil sorcerers.

This does not mean that turquoise mining in pre-Columbian America declined completely. This crisis affected only one specific turquoise-bearing area. On the continent as a whole, bluestone continued to be mined and remained a favorite decorative material and a popular medium of exchange. Impressive finds of turquoise come across every now and then during excavations of Mixtec, Aztec and Mayan monuments. Nowadays, Navajo Indians, living on lands that once belonged to the Anasazi, trade in turquoise jewelry made with their own might and main.

Properties and uses of stone

Areas of application:

• production of decorative jewelry;
• making souvenirs;
• use in lithotherapy;
• wearing as a talisman or talisman;
• collecting.

Physical properties

The stone contains copper, iron, aluminum, which determines its properties:

• opaque, rarely translucent;
• waxy shine;
• density 2.7 g/cm³;
• at the break the edge is uneven;
• hardness 5–6 on the Mohs scale (depending on color).

Medicinal properties

The stone is used for medicinal purposes. It is believed to help with:

• headaches, migraines;
• stress, depression;
• emotional lability, neurosis;
• liver diseases, ulcers, gastritis;
• inflammatory processes;
• colds, bronchitis;
• bleeding;
• rheumatism;
• eye diseases;
• reduced immunity;
• heart pathologies.

Video review from a lithotherapist about the beneficial and extraordinary properties of the stone:

Magic properties

Since ancient times, the gem has been a symbol of love, happiness, and has been endowed with magical qualities:

1. Changes the owner for the better - makes him kinder, more merciful. The stone helps to find the good in others and to reconcile those who have quarreled.
2. According to magicians, Turkish turquoise protects the owner from the evil eye and damage. Protects against energy vampirism.
3. Gives confidence in the correctness of an action or decision. Helps to avoid miscalculations and mistakes.
4. Gives harmony, a subtle attitude, promotes knowledge of the environment. Reveals talents and abilities.
5. Protects from troubles, warns of illness. The gem fades - the owner has depression or a serious illness.

Combines with opaque dense gemstones: aventurine, agate, jasper, malachite, quartz.

It is not recommended to combine wearing with fire stones: red garnet, tourmaline, zirconium, ruby, diamond.

Why do you dream about turquoise?

According to the dream book, turquoise is a good sign (with rare exceptions):

1. Seeing turquoise being given as a gift in a dream means the fulfillment of a cherished desire. If colleagues are present, then management will evaluate the work of the one who saw the dream.
2. Receiving women's jewelry with a mineral as a gift means the appearance of a source of pleasant troubles and surprises in the form of a stranger. Giving someone turquoise is doing a favor. If you dream that a gem is given to a woman, then it means a forced service.
3. If a woman’s turquoise was stolen or she lost it, this means future trials in love and relationships.
4. If turquoise decorates clothes in a dream, it is a pleasant surprise. Seeing a product with a blue stone is an event that can affect your future life.
5. A mineral can dim and stop glowing not only in reality, but also in a dream. If a person saw such a dream, turquoise is interpreted as a warning about envious people and ill-wishers.

Other cases of turquoise seen in a dream are considered harbingers of the imminent fulfillment of desires.

Who is the mineral suitable for according to their zodiac sign?

Turquoise has a different effect on each zodiac sign:

• Taurus will become more balanced, learn to control their words and emotions, the recommended color is green;
• Sagittarians receive luck, self-confidence, love from friends and others, harmony, they should wear white turquoise;
• Scorpios will become more confident in themselves, reduce their temper, aggression towards others, the best choice is a green mineral;
• For Aries, the gem will help to discover and develop talent, become more restrained, teach them to restrain impulsiveness, the color of choice is white;
• Pisces will understand that luck accompanies them in everything;
• Capricorns will rise through the ranks and become more attractive in the eyes of others;
• Virgos will feel the harmony of the mineral with their inner world, they will become calmer, more patient, the optimal stone is white;
• Aquarius will be made more active and purposeful;
• It will help Libra in the fight against melancholy, low self-esteem, and reconcile with the feeling of the transience of time;
• He will put Gemini in a philosophical mood and direct his energy in the right direction;
• Cancers will arrange their personal lives and gain recognition from others.

Astrologers categorically do not recommend wearing a stone for Leos. It can lead the owner to discord with himself, loss of inner harmony, depression, and apathy.

Characteristic

What does turquoise stone look like?
It is an opaque gem with a waxy sheen, green, or less often blue; There is also white turquoise. In addition to the main colors, there are various shades that create impurities of copper and iron. Brown spots are common. The structure of this mineral is not a crystal, but an agglomerate. It is soluble in hydrochloric acid, and if it is heated, it will turn brown and crack.

• Chemical formula: CuAl6( OH)2[ PO4 ] 4 H2O .
• Color - blue, blue-green, light blue, green, sometimes white, brown spots are often present.
• Impurities - copper, iron.
• The shine is waxy.
• Transparency - opaque.
• Hardness - 5–6.
• Cleavage - perfect/imperfect.
• The fracture is conchoidal and uneven.
• Density - 2.6–2.8 g / cm3 .

Stone jewelry

Turquoise looks good with clothes in white, beige, and gold shades. A white dress goes with a bracelet, earrings go with a light blouse and a black skirt, beads go well with a beige suit, and a ring can be worn with any outfit.

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Caring for stone and products

Turquoise is a fragile stone that requires careful handling. To extend its service life, you need to follow the basic rules:

• store in a case;
• do not expose to high temperatures;
• clean the mineral once a month;
• avoid contact with alkalis, abrasives, acids - the turquoise will darken;
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight - the stone will lose transparency;
• wear without using cosmetics (deodorant, varnish, soap, lotion, etc.).

You can clean turquoise at home by washing the stone with clean water or jewelry cleaner. After washing, dry thoroughly with a soft towel.

STORIES OF SAMARKAND

Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, the same age as Rome, the heart of the Great Silk Road and the capital of the great Tamerlane, is a beacon for seeking natures, creative individuals and those who love beauty.

Because Samarkand knows how to give impressions that you want to grab, put together and make something beautiful. This city also frees the imagination of those who look at it and allows everyone to imagine and search for personal meanings in their subjects.

Samarkand has many stories - they are bright, like the clothes of local residents, amazing, like the blue domes of minarets and madrassas supporting the sky, juicy, like yellow carrots in the delicious Samarkand pilaf, tart, like freshly squeezed pomegranate juice at the 600-year-old Siab bazaar, immeasurable, like oriental hospitality, comprehensive, like the desire to buy all the robes, carpets and ceramics and, of course, majestic, like the centuries-old architectural masterpieces of the era of the great Amir Temur (Tamerlane).