TURQUOISE

4,000 BC

Turquoise buried in Ancient Egyptian tombs is among the world’s oldest jewelry.

MEFKAT

Ancient Egyptians called turquoise “mefkat,” which also means “joy” and “delight.”

1519

Montezuma, thinking Cortes was Quetzalcoatl, gave him the god’s favorite gem: turquoise.

FACTS

• Mineral: Turquoise
• Chemistry: CuAl₆(PO₄)₄  (OH)_8.5H₂O
• Color: Blue to green
• Refractive Index: 1.610 to 1.650
• Birefringence: Not detectable
• Specific Gravity: 2.76 (+0.14, -0.36)
• Mohs Hardness: 5 to 6

source:gia.edu