Turquoise is such a beautiful color and as a gemstone it is very popular in the Southwestern United States and around the world. The stone can be found in varying shades of blue, green and yellow-gray with the bluer shades being considered most valuable and highly prized. It is typically found where copper is mined. If you ever have an occasion to hike within close proximity of an old copper mine, it is fairly easy to find less valuable colored turquoise out in the open, scattered about through the mine tailings.
Turquoise is a fairly soft mineral with a hardness of 6 on Mohs scale and it is subject to damage and discoloration. Most turquoise, even fine quality is treated in some way to help protect the finish. There are a number of different treatments that can be applied and sometimes dies will be introduced to help improve color. When making a major purchase investment in turquoise, it is always a good idea to buy from a reputable dealer and/or have the stones checked out by a certified gemologist.
Turquoise is one among some of the oldest known gemstones in the world. It has a long history of being recognized for many mystical and healing powers. -And probably best known as a symbol of good fortune and happiness.
