Turquoise 绿松石 / 土耳其玉

Deposit sites: Australia, U.S.A., Chile, China, Mexico, Iran, Afghanistan, South Africa, Tanzania, and Israel.

Group: Kallaite

Hardness: 5 – 6

Zodiacal sign: Sagittarius, Aquarius, Pisces, Leo.

Capricorn, Taurus, Libra, Virgo

Color scheme: Light to medium blue, greenish blue to green, often mottled, and may show dark splotches or veins of matrix.

Gemstone of the month: December, 11th Wedding Anniversary.

Turquoise is a 13th century French word “Piere Turquois” meaning Turkish stone, a reference to the fact that the stone arrived in Europe via Turkey.

Turquoise was highly valued for its beauty and spiritual powers, and was found throughout the ancient civilizations of the Aztecs, Incas, Egyptians, Persians, and Native Americans. Many ancient Native American civilizations believed the turquoise’s ability to change color could be used to discover if a natural disaster was approaching.

As one of the gemstones that bridges virtually all cultures, turquoise has long been thought to emit strong, protective energy, especially if given by an affectionate friend. It is also said to bring happiness and good fortune.

Native Americans saw turquoise as a sign of divinity and power because it stole its color from the sky and sea. Like most power symbols, turquoise adornments showed wealth and rank.

Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi Indians of the Native Americans Southwest have for centuries fashioned turquoise jewelry. Over a hundred years ago those native peoples began to create turquoise and silver jewelry, the “squashblossom” necklace being the best known. Sand paintings, part of Navajo religious rituals, portray gods and goddesses wearing turquoise jewelry.