Turquoise

tur-kois', a precious stone much used as a gem. It is composed chiefly of aluminium. The blue turquoise owes its color to the presence of a phosphate of copper. A trace of iron gives a greenish tint. It is found in veins. It is not a crystal. Large pieces are rare. The color fades on exposure to strong light. It is softer than the topaz--four points softer than the diamond. Turquoise was a favorite gem among the ancients. Fine specimens have been found in the mummy cases of Egypt,--no doubt from the peninsula of Sinai. The Bedouin Arab believes that the turquoise has power to dispel evil influences and to prevent bad dreams from coming true. Turquoise mines have been worked in Persia for centuries. The cut gems were imported into western Europe by way of Turkey, whence the name turquoise. The ancient Aztecs of Mexico had turquoise mines. The Mexican Indians still hold a tradition that the stone is sacred to Montezuma. The mineral is found also in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California.

See Gem