Where is Turquoise found?
Turquoise
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Open the appTurquoise occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Turquoise
Southwestern United States (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado)
Historically significant and currently major producers, particularly Arizona (e.g., Sleeping Beauty, Kingman mines) and Nevada (e.g., Lander Blue, Lone Mountain, Carico Lake mines). Occurs in porphyry copper deposits and associated altered rocks.
Iran (Persia)
Nishapur district has been a source of high-quality turquoise for millennia, often considered the benchmark for fine blue color. Occurs in altered trachyte and other volcanic rocks.
China (Hubei province)
A significant producer, with material often exhibiting a range of blue to green colors and matrix patterns. Found in altered sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Egypt (Sinai Peninsula)
Ancient mines, particularly Serabit el-Khadim and Wadi Maghareh, were among the earliest known sources of turquoise, dating back thousands of years. Occurs in sandstone.
Mexico
Various deposits, particularly in Sonora, producing material often with a greenish hue or distinct matrix.
Afghanistan
Known for producing good quality turquoise, often with a distinct blue color.
Collecting tips
- Look for Arid Environments. Turquoise forms in dry, desert-like conditions where copper-rich waters can percolate through host rocks. Focus exploration in regions with a history of copper mineralization.
- Identify Host Rocks. Search in areas with altered igneous rocks (e.g., porphyries, volcanic tuffs), sandstones, or shales that are rich in aluminum and show signs of copper staining (malachite, azurite).
- Examine Fractures and Veins. Turquoise typically forms as secondary infillings in fractures, seams, and cavities within the host rock. Look for blue or green streaks or nodules.
- Check for Associated Minerals. Turquoise is often found with limonite, kaolinite, chalcedony, and other secondary copper minerals like malachite and azurite. These can be indicators of its presence.
- Use a Hardness Test (Carefully). Turquoise has a Mohs hardness of 5-6. It can be scratched by a steel file but will scratch glass. This helps differentiate it from softer imitations or harder minerals.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Sky-blue to greenish-blue, apple-green
- Luster:
- Waxy to subvitreous, dull
- Streak:
- White to pale bluish-green
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