Turquoise

What is Turquoise?

Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum and belongs to the phosphate minerals. The stone forms in dry, copper rich regions: rainwater seeps through weathered rock, picks up copper, aluminum and phosphorus, and slowly deposits the mineral in cracks, cavities and nodules. Copper gives Turquoise its blue color. When iron takes the place of aluminum, the stone turns greener. Turquoise almost never forms visible crystals, but fine grained masses and veinlets, with remnants of the host rock left behind as brown or black markings. With a hardness of 5 to 6 the stone is reasonably solid, yet porous and sensitive to moisture.

Meaning and History of Turquoise

The name comes from French: pierre turquoise means Turkish stone. The finest material came from Persia and reached Europe along Turkish trade routes, so the name stayed attached to the country of transit. In Persia itself the stone was called firouzeh, meaning victory, and the domes of palaces and sanctuaries were clad with Turquoise. Older still are the mines of the Sinai, where Egyptians extracted Turquoise as early as 3000 BC; the stone was dedicated to the goddess Hathor and lay in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Turkish and Persian riders fastened Turquoise to the bridles of their horses as an amulet against falls. In the southwestern United States, peoples such as the Navajo and Apache worked the stone into jewelry for centuries. From those stories comes its modern meaning: protection, truth and the bond between heaven and earth.

Physical Properties Turquoise

On an energetic level, Turquoise is described as a stone that lets tension drain out of your system. Many people notice that their shoulders, jaw and throat lock up when they have to stay alert for days on end, during a demanding work period or in surroundings that still feel unfamiliar. Turquoise is associated with a cool, calming energy that softens that holding on, so your breathing deepens and slows again. The stone has traditionally been worn at the throat, exactly the place where unspoken words tend to gather. It is also used after a stretch of too many impressions, not to fix anything, but to give your body the rest it needs to recover. These experiences differ greatly from person to person and are energetic in nature.

Please note: gemstones can offer support on an emotional and energetic level, but are never a substitute for medical or professional care. If you have any complaints or concerns, always consult your physician.

Turquoise and Protection on the Road

Turquoise is the classic stone for anyone who sets out, which makes it a favorite among people who travel often, commute or change surroundings regularly. Wear the stone as a pendant or bracelet and it stays with you all day without any effort on your part. If you are going away, tuck a tumbled stone or a rough nugget into your hand luggage, in the pocket you open most often. When you feel tense just before departure, hold the stone in your hand and let your attention sink into your breathing; the cool surface helps you return to the present moment. In the car, a small stone fits neatly in the compartment beside the wheel. If you sleep poorly in strange places, put Turquoise beside the bed in the hotel or guest room, so the space feels familiar sooner.

Spiritual Properties

Spiritually, Turquoise is seen as a bridge between heaven and earth. The blue stands for the sky and for speaking, the brown and black veins for the rock in which the stone grew. Those two sides together make it a stone of grounding and of expression: you stay with both feet on the ground while saying what is going on inside you. People who often put themselves last will recognize the pattern. You know exactly what you think, yet in the moment itself you keep it in so as not to disturb the mood.

Turquoise is used to break that habit gently. It is associated with honesty without hardness: you tell the truth without knocking the other person over. That includes honesty toward yourself, since the stone has long been used for self forgiveness. Old mistakes do not have to be carried around forever.

Turquoise also has a reputation for holding a quiet protective field around you. For sensitive people that is valuable: you stay open to others while absorbing their moods less automatically. Those who meditate or work intuitively use Turquoise to keep clarity, so that insights stay understandable instead of drifting away into vagueness.

How to Use Turquoise?

• Wear Turquoise as jewelry, for example one of the Turquoise pendants and bracelets, so the stone travels close to your throat or wrist throughout the day.
• Place a larger piece in the living room or hallway, the spot where you arrive and depart, for a calm transition between outside and inside.
• During meditation, hold a tumbled stone in your hand or rest it on your throat, and quietly speak out what you want to say.
• Slip a small Turquoise into your bag, suitcase or coat pocket when you travel, as a tangible reminder that you are allowed to stay safe and calm.

Types and Varieties of Turquoise

• Persian Turquoise: the even, sky blue material from the region around Nishapur in Iran, considered the finest quality for centuries because of its pure color and lack of matrix.
• Sleeping Beauty Turquoise: bright blue material from Arizona, known for its quiet color without veining. The mine has since closed, which has made it scarce.
• Spiderweb Turquoise: stones with a fine web of brown or black host rock veins, known from Iran and Nevada among other places. Collectors look for exactly that pattern.
• Tibetan Turquoise: greener, often strongly veined stones traditionally set into Himalayan jewelry.

Beautiful Gemstone Combinations

Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla grows in the same copper rich setting as Turquoise and closely resembles it in color, yet works more softly and fluidly. Where Turquoise gives protection and firmness, Chrysocolla brings mildness to your words. Together they make a lovely pair for conversations in which you want to be honest without turning sharp.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli was already set alongside Turquoise in ancient Egyptian jewelry, and energetically they still complement each other. Lapis Lazuli brings overview and insight into what you actually think, after which Turquoise helps you speak it out loud. For anyone preparing a difficult conversation, this is a logical combination.

Black Tourmaline

Black Tourmaline is known for grounding and for shielding disruptive influences. That sturdy, dark quality supports the lighter protection of Turquoise, especially in crowded spaces or on long journeys. Together they give the feeling that you stand firm, even when your surroundings are restless.

Recognizing Genuine Turquoise

Turquoise is relatively rare and therefore widely imitated. The best known substitute is dyed Howlite, and Magnesite is also colored blue and sold as Turquoise. So look at the color first: real Turquoise shows subtle shifts of tone within a single stone, while dyed material is strikingly even and vivid. Then look at the veining. In natural stones the markings sit inside the stone and run irregularly; in imitations the pattern often looks too uniform, as though drawn on, and a small chip may reveal that the color sits only on the surface. Plastic and resin feel lighter and warm up faster than stone, and sometimes show tiny bubbles or an unnaturally glossy finish. Pressed material, sold in the trade as block or reconstituted Turquoise, consists of ground fragments and binder and lacks the liveliness of a stone that grew. A large, perfectly colored piece at a surprisingly low price is reason to be critical.

Properties

• Hardness (Mohs scale): 5 to 6
• Density: 2.6 to 2.9 g/cm³
• Composition: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
• Crystal structure: triclinic, almost always cryptocrystalline
• Color: sky blue to blue-green and apple green, often with brown or black veins

Locations

• Iran
• United States
• China
• Egypt
• Afghanistan
• Mexico
• Chile
• Australia

Zodiac Signs

Sagittarius

Sagittarius wants to set off, stretch boundaries and see the world, and Turquoise suits that sign as a traveling companion. The stone supports the adventurous side of Sagittarius while holding on to a sense of safety. It also helps this sign deliver its honesty with a little more tact.

Aquarius

Aquarius thinks ahead, goes its own way and has ideas that are not always understood right away. Turquoise helps Aquarius put those ideas into calm, clear words. The stone also offers protection to a sign that easily loses itself in the bigger picture.

Pisces

Pisces senses a great deal and quickly takes on the moods of others. Turquoise supports this sensitive sign by holding a quiet field around them, so they can stay open without running empty. At the same time the stone helps Pisces actually voice their own wishes.

Chakras

Throat Chakra

The Throat Chakra is the center of speaking, listening and being heard. Turquoise resonates with it most strongly and is used to loosen words that have become stuck. A stone resting on the throat during a quiet moment helps you feel what you actually want to say.

Third Eye Chakra

The Third Eye Chakra is about overview and inner knowing. Turquoise is used here to keep clarity when you have many impressions to process. That makes it easier to tell the difference between a genuine gut feeling and plain restlessness.

Root Chakra

The Root Chakra is about safety, grounding and feeling at home in your body. Turquoise suits it thanks to its protective character and the earthy veins running through the stone. During a move, a journey or any major change, this Chakra deserves extra attention.

Care

Turquoise is porous and absorbs moisture, even though the stone feels solid. So do not clean Turquoise under the tap and never leave it in a dish of water: moisture can affect the surface and change the color over time. Wipe the stone with a soft, dry cloth instead. For an energetic cleanse, use the smoke of Sage or Palo Santo. To discharge it, place Turquoise on Hematite Chips overnight. Charge it on Rock Crystal Chips or in soft moonlight. Do not leave the stone in fierce sunlight for long, as the blue can fade or turn greener. Store Turquoise apart from harder stones, for example in a soft pouch, so the surface does not scratch.

More information about the cleansing and charging of gemstones can be found in our blog "The cleansing and charging of gemstones".

Frequently Asked Questions about Turquoise

What does Turquoise mean?

The name comes from French and means Turkish stone, because Persian material reached Europe along Turkish trade routes. Symbolically, Turquoise stands for protection, honesty and the bond between heaven and earth.

Can Turquoise get wet?

No, it is better not to clean Turquoise with water. The stone is porous and absorbs moisture, which damages the surface and can change the color. Choose a soft, dry cloth or the smoke of Sage or Palo Santo.

Can Turquoise be placed in sunlight?

Do not leave Turquoise in fierce sunlight for long, as the blue can fade or turn greener. Brief daylight is no problem, but charging is safer in moonlight or on Rock Crystal Chips.

Which Chakra is associated with Turquoise?

Turquoise resonates most strongly with the Throat Chakra, the center of speaking and being heard. It also works on the Third Eye Chakra for clarity and on the Root Chakra for safety and grounding.

Where is the best place to put Turquoise?

Place Turquoise in the hallway or living room, where you leave and arrive, or beside your bed when you sleep somewhere unfamiliar. On the road the stone works best in your bag, coat pocket or hand luggage.

Summary

Turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate with a sky blue to blue-green color and often brown or black veins. Its name refers to the Turkish trade route along which Persian material reached Europe, and the stone was already mined in the Sinai around 3000 BC. On an energetic level, Turquoise is known as the stone of the traveler: it gives a safe feeling in unfamiliar situations, lets tension drop away and helps you speak honestly about what is on your mind. It resonates with the Throat Chakra, the Third Eye Chakra and the Root Chakra, and suits Sagittarius, Aquarius and Pisces. Cleanse it without water, keep it out of fierce sun and charge it in moonlight or on Rock Crystal Chips.

If you have any questions about Turquoise, please do not hesitate to contact Kristalmeester. We are happy to help.