| For many Americans, turquoise seems a | | | | Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, |
| distinctively American gemstone -- mined in | | | | Israel, Egypt, Mexico and Tanzania. The name |
| Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, and | | | | "Persian Turquoise" is now generally used to refer |
| with a long history in native American jewelry. | | | | to any turquoise stone that does not have the |
| But turquoise has been an important gemstone in | | | | black or brown veining commonly found in |
| many eastern cultures for thousands of years. | | | | turquoise mined in the United States and used in a |
| This is reflected in the English name for the gem, | | | | style of jewelry created by the American Indians. |
| since it was first brought to Europe by traders | | | | From the gemological perspective, turquoise is a |
| from Asia Minor. But probably the turquoise came | | | | hydrous phosphate of copper. It is fairly soft, with |
| from famous turquoise mines in Iran or Egypt, | | | | the hardest specimens reaching only 6 on the |
| not Turkey. | | | | Mohs scale. Despite its softness, turquoise takes a |
| Turquoise, along with lapis lazuli, is one of the | | | | very good polish. Turquoise is always opaque and |
| oldest gemstone materials known to man. The | | | | the color varies from blue to green, sometimes |
| color of turquoise is so unique that this has | | | | with flecks of pyrite or interspersed with dark, |
| become the standard word we use to describe | | | | spidery limonite veining. |
| the slightly greenish shade of cyan and similar | | | | Like many gemstones, the demand for high |
| colors. | | | | quality turquoise exceeds the supply. This has led |
| The legendary home of the world's finest | | | | to the development of treatment methods to |
| turquoise is the mines at Nishapur in Iran. | | | | improve the color and durability of lower cost |
| Turquoise became a major trade and barter item | | | | material. Softer and more porous turquoise can |
| for the early Persians. Persian turquoise was | | | | be enhanced by impregnating the stone under |
| found in ancient graves in Turkistan and, in the 1st | | | | pressure with hot acrylic resins. The resins |
| to 3rd century A.D., in graves throughout the | | | | improve the color, hardness, and durability of the |
| Caucasus. | | | | material. As long as the materials are represented |
| For centuries, the most valuable turquoise came | | | | as treated, this is regarded as an acceptable |
| from Iran but today deposits are also found in | | | | practice in the gemstone industry. |