Hydrated copper aluminum phosphate prized for millennia as a gemstone. One of the oldest known gem materials. Color: Sky blue, blue-green, green. Luster: Waxy to vitreous. Streak: White to pale green. Cleavage: Good in one direction. Hardness: 5-6. Transparency: Opaque. Crystal system: Triclinic. Chemical formula: CuAl₆ PO₄ ₄ OH ₈·4H₂O. Specific gravity: 2.6-2.8. Formation: Forms in arid regions by percolation of acidic copper-bearing solutions through aluminum-rich rocks. Common geological settings: Iran, USA Arizona, Nevada , China, Egypt; found in weathered volcanic rocks in arid climates. Common look-alikes and related entries: Chrysocolla, Variscite, Amazonite.
Blue minerals — Place this specimen in a broader field-identification workflow.
Sources, scope & corrections
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:37:05.763221+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Hydrated copper aluminum phosphate prized for millennia as a gemstone. One of the oldest known gem materials.
How can you identify Turquoise?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Sky blue, blue-green, green; lustre: Waxy to vitreous; streak: White to pale green; Mohs hardness: 5-6; cleavage: Good in one direction; crystal system: Triclinic; transparency: Opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Turquoise form?
Forms in arid regions by percolation of acidic copper-bearing solutions through aluminum-rich rocks.
Where is Turquoise commonly found?
Iran, USA Arizona, Nevada , China, Egypt; found in weathered volcanic rocks in arid climates.
What is Turquoise commonly confused with?
Turquoise may be confused with Chrysocolla, Variscite, Amazonite. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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