Turquoise Gemstone

One of the first gemstones to be mined, turquoise has long been prized for it's intense colors, which vary greatly from sky blue to green, depending on the quantities of iron and copper found in it.
Turquoise is a complicated, persnickety gemstone. Just the right type of minerals must be in just the right place for a very very long time (millions of years) before turquoise is finally created.
Egyptians prized Turquoise as a Life Stone. The oldest pieces of jewelry set with this gem are fourbracelets found on the mummified arm of Queen Zar. She ruled in Egypt about 5500 BC.
Highly revered in Tibet, a Turquoise stone was carried throughout one’s entire life. It was exchanged as currency & the finest stones were considered more valuable than gold.

Scientific Properties:
Mohs Hardness of 6 with a triclinic crystal structure.

Copper is key to beginning the process of creating Turquoise. The mineral is introduced into host rocks by heated magma rising to the earth’s surface. Hydrothermal actions created by the heat of the magma will break down nearby feldspar, releasing aluminum. Phosphoric acids leach from apatites (rocks not usually found near copper deposits) leaving the needed phosphorus.

Just getting past this complicated process will not be enough . . . the host stones must also stay above the water table for millions of years. As Mother Earth heaved & cooled, mountains rose, seas formed & disappeared, these deposits of copper, aluminum & phosphorus had to remain under great pressures & stay dry.

Almost all Turquoise is found in areas with volcanic or thermal histories and the finest grades of the gem are found closest to the earth’s surface. The stone must be able to “dry out” in order to maintain it’s hardness. Deeper deposits of Turquoise become soft because of acids created as water percolates through the earth.

One of the exceptions to this is the Lone Mountain Mine in Nevada. This rich deposit of Turquoise was sent deep into Mother Earth after seismic activity caused the deposit to fault.

Turquoise is found around the world. Its history as a spiritual stone goes back over 7500 years. Persian Turquoise is considered some of the finest in the world (& some of the earliest mines). China, North & South America, Saudia Arabia, Tibet also have significant deposits of this gem. Virginia has an extremely rare Turquoise that forms in prismatic crystals.

Mystical Properties:
Turquoise is still a valued power stone. It will strengthen and align all of the Chakras; and it can be used to cleanse your energy centers. As a meditation tool, the gem can assist in clearing your mind, opening you to the Universal All. Use Turquoise to attune to the spiritual plane or provide protection during vision quests or astral travel.

Native Americans believed the stone brought protection to a rider upon a horse, and great protection in general, especially to turn away the evil eye.

Called "sky stone" or "stone of heaven" by some Native Americans, the vibrations of turquoise can build a spiritual bridge between worlds and give strong psychic powers to the bearer.

Turquoise is considered to be a symbol of generosity, sincerity, and affection. It preserves friendships and can make friends out of enemies in time. Traditionally is is said to only bring good luck if given, not purchased. However, this is not always the case. One must take into consideration the innate energy of each stone individually.

Healing Properties:
Turquoise was part of the medical equipment of most physicians of the fifteenth century; the claim was that this stone could counteract the affects of any poison.

A master healer and a stone of yin (feminine) energy, turquoise is most helpful with female disorders. Also used to prevent and cure headaches. A strong stone for toning and strengthening the entire body and regenerating tissue.

It's best known for it's drawing powers. When pressed against the diseased or troubled portion of the body, the illness is then visualized as being drawn into the stone and out of the body, thus removing it all together.

Tradition says that this stone reflect the health of the body and the aura by changing color.

Magical Properties:
Energy: Receptive
Element: Earth
Deities: Hathor, Buddha, The Great Spirit (American Indian)
Powers: Protection, courage, money, love, friendship, healing and luck!

Turquoise is used regularly to gain wealth, and it used or worn during money attraction spells. Given as a gift, turquoise bestows wealth and happiness to it's receiver.

The stone is also utilized in love spells and magic. It can be worn, carried or given to a love one. It is frequently used to promote marital harmony. It is told that if the color of the stone fades, so has the love of the recipient.

Discharge turquoise once a month in a bowl of dry tumbled hematite stones and recharge overnight among rock crystals - out of the light of the sun!