 Necklace featuring Tibetan Turquoise, Copper, and Prasiolite with matching bracelet and earrings Turquoise is a mixture of hydrated Copper and Aluminum Phosphate occurring solely in arid environments such as the desert. Turquoise has been found in many places like, Egypt China, Mexico, Iran and more; and has even been found here is the US such as, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California, and more! The most popular places to find this stone is Iran and here in the Southwestern states of the US. While today, Iran is the leading producer of Turquoise, back in 1930's until early 1980's, Nevada was the largest producer - with over 150 mines throughout the state. The value of Turquoise is determined by color, weight, and the mine it was produced from. The most valuable and sought-after colors are sky blue, sometimes referred to as Robin's Egg blue; the original mine to source this color is Nishapur district of Iran and was described as 'Persian blue'. The closest comparable mine in the U.S. for Persian blue Turquoise is the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, Arizona. Top quality stones are ordinarily fashioned into cabochons and can be found in numerous shapes; round & oval being the most common. Turquoise is the first gemstone with an official color named after it, how neat! This gem ranks a harness of 5 - 6 on MOH's scale. Since this stone leans on the softer side, artists have been using Turquoise for years to carve charming jewelry and various décor items. To many, it is considered the stone of communication and helps with being heard. It's also believed to be the stone of travelers, dreamers, & adventurers; refreshing you when you are exhausted, and encouraging good intuition and foresight. Shop Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry and specimens online or in any of our 3 galleries located in Santa Fe, and Taos, NM & Sedona, AZ.
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