Quartz, Pyrite, Limonite, Chrysocolla, Variscite, Wavellite, Malachite DISTINGUISHING SIMILAR MINERALS Turquoise may be very similar and very difficult to distinguish from Variscite, though Variscite is usually greener. Other imitations include magnesite, plastic, epoxy, and resin that are all dyed to resemble the real . Thus, some turquoise is highly resistant to scratching, but most will scratch easily. First, turquoise is a kind of mineral that only found near deposit of copper, it also requires presence of three other materials: aluminum, phosphorus, and water. Due to gold acquisitions covering parts of the mine, Stennich is very hard to find today. In natural light, the stone reflects backlight and shines brightly. In fact, the Cerrillos New Mexico Turquoise mines produce seventy-five colors, from tan to khaki-green to rich, blue-green to bright and . Howlite normally looks like the white stones pictured in the infographic below. turquoise PHOTOS "Turquoise is formed by a complex combination of aluminum . Turquoise (/ t r k (w) z / TUR-k(w)oyz), also known as Persian blue, is a blue-green color, based on the mineral of the same name.The word turquoise dates to the 17th century and is derived from the French turquois, meaning 'Turkish', because the mineral was first brought to Europe through Turkey from mines in the historical Khorasan province of Iran (Persia) and Afghanistan. Dyed chalcedony, jasper, and marble is less frequent, and What Is The Name Of The Stone That . . Bisbee turquoise is famous for its deep blue color and smoky black matrix. The most typical imitation of turquoise experienced today is dyed howlite and magnesite, both white-colored within their natural states, and also the former also getting natural (and convincing) black veining much like those of turquoise. The turquoise group consists of five triclinic minerals. Some minerals, like howlite, can be dyed to look like turquoise. Stennich Turquoise A collector's stone, this historic Nevada mine is in Crescent Valley, Nevada. Lime Green Turquoise actually lacks certain minerals (mainly copper) which is the reason it is colored lime green. Both chrysocolla and turquoise form earthy to compact masses in light to medium blue tones, so hardness or density tests to differentiate between the two are not reliable. It isn't hugely popular as a gemstone, but it is a great choice if you want an inexpensive gemstone that doesn't look cheap or fake. From a scientific standpoint, Turquoise is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium while Chrysocolla is hydrated copper silicate. Lapis Lazuli. Lander Blue Turquoise is the world's most valuable turquoise Bisbee turquoise is from the Lavender Pit copper mine that is no longer in operation. The most widespread green mineral, chlorite is rarely present by itself. Turquoise Widespread in both inexpensive jewelry and designer pieces, turquoise is the most popular of blue gemstones. Block Turquoise is manufactured in blocks and is made to look like turquoise. especially since turquoise varies so much from stone to stone. It's also harder than most turquoise. It ranges in hardness from 3 to 7.5, depending on the mineralogy of its host rock. Since turquoise is a naturally-occurring mineral, it's probably not surprising that there are other minerals out there that look similar to it. Is Turquoise a Gemstone or Mineral? Chrysocolla may also be similar though it is lower in hardness and usually has a more vitreous luster. Check out our turquoise mineral selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our rocks & geodes shops. If you're looking for a stone that will last, make sure it originated in Australia. Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide with a hardness of 3.5 that naturally forms in irregular nodules. T his Nevada mine produces amazing shades of lime-green and blue turquoise. An unusual and eye-catching gemstone, chrysoprase is a variety of chalcedony with inclusions of nickel-bearing minerals that impart bright green hues. First, lets dig into a little bit under the surface of how turquoise is formed. It was originally discovered by prehistoric Indians well over 1000 years ago. Lone Mountain is known for its ability to hold its beautiful blue color, even after decades of use, unlike other turquoise, who tend to slowly turn light green. Amazonite is a greenish-blue stone that is often turquoise in color. Navajo Turquoise - Turquoise from the American Southwest, especially Arizona, that contains black or brown patterns or spots throughout. Damele Turquoise (Variscite) has intense spiderwebbing Demele is usually a variscite, which people confuse with turquoise. 4 H 2 O. Although it appears to have a flaky structure like mica, chlorite gleams rather than sparkles and doesn't split into flexible sheets. View complete answer on nevada-outback-gems.com Top 10 things to know about Turquoise 4H 2 O, aka a hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate. Kingman Turquoise - Turquoise from the Mineral Park Mine near Kingman, Arizona, known for its good color. The Damele mine is outside of Austin, Nevada. Cabbed or carved, this translucent gem is another great jade lookalike. 2. Kingman Turquoise is known for its beautiful sky blue color and produces many variations of blue Turquoise. Persian Turquoise - High quality Turquoise from the ancient deposits of Iran, especially at Nishapur. Turquoise is the most famous gem in the category of semi-precious gemstones and the Turquoise Mineral Group. The stone has a nice finish with dark, alluring blue and greenish shades. Damele (Variscite - see definitions page) aka Damali mine is in east-central Nevada near the Carico Lake mine. Lapis Lazuli is normally a mixture of three minerals: Lazurite (very complex blue mineral) calcite (calcium carbonate, which is white) pyrite (an iron sulfide that is white-gold in color) Lazurite is the essential ingredient of lapis lazuli and is the mineral that gives it the blue color. What does Turquoise Look Like? Carico Lake Turquoise | Carico Lake Turquoise Jewelry | Nevada Green Turquoise Damele comes from the Benny Demele Mine in Central Nevada. Ithaca Peak Turquoise looks like Morenci Turquoise, but has an accompanying black matrix not found in Morenci. Their compositions are listed in the accompanying table. Mines in this district also produce faustite, an apple-green mineral similar to turquoise but becomes a separate mineral in 1953. These minerals are very similar in chemical composition, crystal structure, physical properties and often in appearance. It is one of the most highly collectible variety of turquoise. There are other gemstones such as Faustite, Calcasiderite and Variscite that come close to Lime Green Turquoise but they are not actually Turquoise. Members of the group are: turquoise, aheylite, chalcosiderite, faustite, and planerite. Malachite and Azurite. In microscopic form, it gives a dull olive green color to a wide range of metamorphic rocks from slate and phyllite to schist. The Lone Mountain Turquoise Mine is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The following are some of my theories on why most people group so many different minerals as turquoise. What Is The Name Of The Stone That Looks Like Turquoise? These nodules are usually white in color with gray to black veins. Turquoise is a captivating stone, leaving a calm and peaceful effect on the eyes. Synthetic and Lab Grown Turquoise have the same chemical composition and physical look of natural turquoise. It usually occurs within layers of gypsum as irregularly-shaped nodules that resemble small heads of cauliflower. The color and the turquoise hardness depend greatly on these deposits it formed on. Many people do not take the time to explain or learn about the different minerals. The Kingman Turquoise Mine is one of the oldest and highest producing Turquoise Mines in America. These characteristics, make Lone Mountain ideal for jewelry making. Turquoise. It resembles the sea and the sky. They often resemble turquoise - but with a white color. Typically fake turquoise is made out of a soft mineral called howlite, which is dyed to look just like turquoise. Classic Bisbee Turquoise with lavender matrix and electric blue It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. Alternately, Carico Lake turquoise can also be a dark blue-green color with a black, spider web matrix. Originally nicknamed 'Zuni Nuggets', this turquoise is naturally hard & high-grade. Fake turquoise can be hard to spot, (even I have issues sometimes!) Howlite is a calcium borosilicate hydroxide mineral that is found in some evaporite deposits. The mineral . 1. Although they are both copper minerals and are somewhat similar in appearance, they are not the same thing. It's a chalky white in color with fine grey/black veins in an irregular pattern. It produces very distinct turquoise and variscite. The three blue stones featured are dyed Howlite, often marketed as "turquoise". Thus, a variety of colors developed from the minerals in the various volcanic host stones. Chrysocolla is the most common mineral of similar appearance to turquoise. 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