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Turquoise
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As a microcrystalline mineral, turquoise does not lend itself to sharply chiseled facets like diamonds, rubies, tourmalines, and other gemstones. Instead, the predominantly blue, sometimes green, mineral is often carved into cameos, polished into...
As a microcrystalline mineral, turquoise does not lend itself to sharply chiseled facets like diamonds, rubies, tourmalines, and other gemstones. Instead, the predominantly blue, sometimes green, mineral is often carved into cameos, polished into beads and cabochons, or engraved and then inlaid with gold. Many varieties of turquoise are quite porous, which is why turquoise is often waxed or coated with resin to protect the stone from being damaged while worn. Taking that practice a step further, much of the turquoise that’s on the market today is made from turquoise dust that’s been mixed with resin and heated until hardened. This material is then cut into shapes for use by a jeweler—not surprisingly, this sort of manufactured turquoise sells for far less than naturally formed turquoise.
A hydrous copper aluminum phosphate, turquoise is found in dry regions, usually forming as a vein of stone in a crack within limonite or sandstone. Copper is mostly what gives turquoise its color—think of the patina of copper architectural details that have been exposed to the elements—which is why turquoise is often found in copper mines, from the Nishapur district of Iran to the Mexican state of Sonora just south of the American states of Arizona and New Mexico.
In fact, although turquoise gets its name from the French phrase pierre Turquoise or “stone of Turkey” because so much turquoise passed north from Iran through that country, the American Southwest is closely associated with the mineral—there, it tends to be greener than the “Persian blue” examples in the Middle East. For the most part, turquoise mined in the Americas is also riddled with veins, the darker ones composed of limonite, the tan ones of sandstone. These veins are usually referred to as the stone’s matrix, which, if pleasing to the eye, are called “spiderweb” turquoise.
In Southwest jewelry, particularly those designed by members of the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes, turquoise is set within sterling silver settings. The phrase “old pawn” is sometimes used to describe all antique Native American turquoise jewelry, whether it’s a wide bracelet or a squash-blossom necklace, but the term should really be reserved for pieces from the 19th century rather than the 20th. Even so, vintage Native American jewelry made of turquoise and silver commissioned for the tourist trade by railroad opportunists like Fred Harvey are in great demand today.
One of three birthstones for those born in the month of December (the other two are zircon and tanzanite), turquoise has long been associated with royalty. When the tomb of Queen Zer of the First Egyptian Dynasty was opened at the dawn of the 20th century for the first time in more than 7,000 years, four gold-and-turquoise bracelets adorned her bony wrists. Several thousand years later, King Tut wore turquoise, or, we should say, he was buried with it. Similarly, the Aztecs leaders who ruled present-day Mexico revered the stone, although they believed it too sacred to wear.
Continue readingAs a microcrystalline mineral, turquoise does not lend itself to sharply chiseled facets like diamonds, rubies, tourmalines, and other gemstones. Instead, the predominantly blue, sometimes green, mineral is often carved into cameos, polished into beads and cabochons, or engraved and then inlaid with gold. Many varieties of turquoise are quite porous, which is why turquoise is often waxed or coated with resin to protect the stone from being damaged while worn. Taking that practice a step further, much of the turquoise that’s on the market today is made from turquoise dust that’s been mixed with resin and heated until hardened. This material is then cut into shapes for use by a jeweler—not surprisingly, this sort of manufactured turquoise sells for far less than naturally formed turquoise.
A hydrous copper aluminum phosphate, turquoise is found in dry regions, usually forming as a vein of stone in a crack within limonite or sandstone. Copper is mostly what gives turquoise its color—think of the patina of copper architectural details that have been exposed to the elements—which is why turquoise is often found in copper mines, from the Nishapur district of Iran to the Mexican state of Sonora just south of the American states of Arizona and New Mexico.
In fact, although turquoise gets its name from the French phrase pierre Turquoise or “stone of Turkey” because so much turquoise passed north from Iran through that country, the American Southwest is closely associated with the mineral—there, it tends to be greener than the “Persian blue” examples in the Middle East. For the most part, turquoise mined in the Americas is also riddled with veins, the darker ones composed of limonite, the tan ones of sandstone. These veins are usually referred to as the stone’s matrix, which, if pleasing to the eye, are called “spiderweb” turquoise.
In Southwest jewelry, particularly those designed by members of the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes, turquoise is set within
As a microcrystalline mineral, turquoise does not lend itself to sharply chiseled facets like diamonds, rubies, tourmalines, and other gemstones. Instead, the predominantly blue, sometimes green, mineral is often carved into cameos, polished into beads and cabochons, or engraved and then inlaid with gold. Many varieties of turquoise are quite porous, which is why turquoise is often waxed or coated with resin to protect the stone from being damaged while worn. Taking that practice a step further, much of the turquoise that’s on the market today is made from turquoise dust that’s been mixed with resin and heated until hardened. This material is then cut into shapes for use by a jeweler—not surprisingly, this sort of manufactured turquoise sells for far less than naturally formed turquoise.
A hydrous copper aluminum phosphate, turquoise is found in dry regions, usually forming as a vein of stone in a crack within limonite or sandstone. Copper is mostly what gives turquoise its color—think of the patina of copper architectural details that have been exposed to the elements—which is why turquoise is often found in copper mines, from the Nishapur district of Iran to the Mexican state of Sonora just south of the American states of Arizona and New Mexico.
In fact, although turquoise gets its name from the French phrase pierre Turquoise or “stone of Turkey” because so much turquoise passed north from Iran through that country, the American Southwest is closely associated with the mineral—there, it tends to be greener than the “Persian blue” examples in the Middle East. For the most part, turquoise mined in the Americas is also riddled with veins, the darker ones composed of limonite, the tan ones of sandstone. These veins are usually referred to as the stone’s matrix, which, if pleasing to the eye, are called “spiderweb” turquoise.
In Southwest jewelry, particularly those designed by members of the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes, turquoise is set within sterling silver settings. The phrase “old pawn” is sometimes used to describe all antique Native American turquoise jewelry, whether it’s a wide bracelet or a squash-blossom necklace, but the term should really be reserved for pieces from the 19th century rather than the 20th. Even so, vintage Native American jewelry made of turquoise and silver commissioned for the tourist trade by railroad opportunists like Fred Harvey are in great demand today.
One of three birthstones for those born in the month of December (the other two are zircon and tanzanite), turquoise has long been associated with royalty. When the tomb of Queen Zer of the First Egyptian Dynasty was opened at the dawn of the 20th century for the first time in more than 7,000 years, four gold-and-turquoise bracelets adorned her bony wrists. Several thousand years later, King Tut wore turquoise, or, we should say, he was buried with it. Similarly, the Aztecs leaders who ruled present-day Mexico revered the stone, although they believed it too sacred to wear.
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