How Many Types of Turquoise Are There?

By Gemexi Team | Jewelry Education
  • Updated On Sep 12, 2023
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How Many Types of Turquoise Are There?

Turquoise is a blue-green mineral that has been valued for its beauty and cultural significance for thousands of years. A hydrated phosphate comprising aluminum and copper, the turquoise gemstone is often used in jewelry and decorative objects and has been used for this purpose by many cultures throughout history, including the ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Native Americans. It is also used in some traditional medicines and is believed by some to have healing properties. Let us now take a quick glance at the healing properties of Turquoise stone before discussing its wide varieties.
 

What does turquoise symbolize?

Turquoise is a blue-green mineral used for thousands of years for ornamental and jewelry purposes. It is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum, with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. The color of turquoise can range from pale blue to greenish-blue to deep sky blue, depending on the amount of copper and iron in the stone.

Turquoise is typically found in arid regions with abundant copper, such as Iran, Afghanistan, China, and the southwestern United States. It has been prized by many cultures throughout history, from ancient Egyptians to Native Americans, who believed it to have healing properties and spiritual significance.

Today, turquoise is still used in jewelry and other decorative items and is often combined with other stones and metals to create unique pieces. It is also sometimes used in architecture and interior design, particularly in the southwestern United States, where it is a popular motif.
 

What is turquoise stone good for?

People believe that Turquoise stone is a good source of goodness because of its healing properties, and it has been used for this purpose by many cultures throughout history. Some of the healing properties attributed to turquoise include:
 
  1. Physical healing: Turquoise is believed to have physical healing properties and has been used to treat various conditions, such as headaches, asthma, and infections. It is also believed that the use of this gemstone strengthens your immunity.
     
  2. Emotional healing: Turquoise is often associated with emotional healing and is believed to help calm the mind and reduce anxiety and stress. One can also improve his or her communication skills and power of expression with this gemstone. Turquoise is also an amazing option for people who want to take their creativity to the next level!
     
  3. Spiritual healing: Turquoise is considered a spiritual stone and is believed to enhance spiritual connection and awareness. It is said to help align the chakras, balance the body's energies, and facilitate meditation and introspection.

What is the rarest type of turquoise?

The rarest type of turquoise is widely considered to be the Lander Blue turquoise. It was mined in the Lander County area of Nevada in the 1970s and is known for its intense blue-green color and distinctive spiderweb matrix.

Lander Blue turquoise is extremely rare and is highly prized by collectors and jewelry designers. It is estimated that only around 100 pounds of Lander Blue turquoise were ever mined, making it one of the most sought-after and expensive types of turquoise in the world.

Other rare types of turquoise include the Damele turquoise, which is also mined in Nevada and is known for its green color and black spiderweb matrix, and the Blue Moon turquoise, which is a recently discovered type of turquoise from the Candelaria mine in Nevada and is known for its bright blue color and tight spiderweb matrix.
 

How many colors of turquoise are there?

Turquoise is typically known for its blue-green color, but it can come in various colors. Some of the most common colors of turquoise include:
  1. Blue: This is the most common color of turquoise and is often used in jewelry and decorative items.
     
  2. Green: Turquoise can have a greenish tint, particularly when it contains more iron than copper.
     
  3. Yellow: Some types of turquoise can have a yellowish or brownish tint caused by iron oxide.
     
  4. White: Some types of turquoise have a white or cream-colored matrix, which can make the blue or green color of the stone stand out even more.
     
  5. Black: Turquoise can have a black matrix caused by iron sulfide.
     
  6. Purple: Some types of turquoise can have a purplish tint, which is caused by the presence of manganese.

What are the different names of turquoise?

Turquoise is a valuable and popular gemstone used in jewelry for thousands of years. It is a blue-to-green mineral typically opaque and often contains black or brown veining or inclusions. There are several types of turquoise, each with its own unique characteristics and properties. Here are some of the most well-known types of turquoise:
 
  1. Blue Diamond Turquoise

Blue Diamond Turquoise is a rare and highly sought-after turquoise known for its vivid blue color and dark matrix. It is mined in the Candelaria Hills of Nevada and is considered one of the highest-quality turquoise deposits in the world. Blue Diamond Turquoise is used in fine jewelry and has been prized by Native American tribes for centuries. Its unique color and matrix pattern make it popular for collectors and jewelry enthusiasts.
 
  1. Valley Blue Turquoise

Valley Blue Turquoise is a type of turquoise found in the Royston mining district in Nevada. It is known globally for its distinctive blue-green color and unique matrix patterns, making each stone unique. Valley Blue Turquoise is often used in Native American jewelry and has been prized for its beauty and rarity for centuries.
 
  1. Kingman Turquoise

Kingman Turquoise is a rare and highly prized variety of turquoise found in the Kingman mine in northwestern Arizona. It is known for its distinctive bright blue color and striking black matrix patterns. The mine has been in operation for over a century and is one of the world's largest turquoise producers.
 
  1. Lone Mountain Turquoise

Lone Mountain Turquoise is a turquoise found in a remote mountain range in Nevada. It is known for its deep blue color and black matrix, which gives it a distinctive look. Lone Mountain Turquoise has been used in jewelry for centuries and is prized for its beauty and rarity. It is considered one of the most valuable and sought-after types of turquoise worldwide.
 
  1. Lander Turquoise

Lander Turquoise is a rare and highly sought-after type of turquoise found in the Lander Blue mining district of Nevada, USA. It is known for its vibrant blue color and distinctive black spiderweb matrix, which forms intricate patterns throughout the stone. Lander Turquoise is considered one of the world's most valuable and collectible types of turquoise due to its limited supply and unique characteristics.
 
  1. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is a rare gemstone known for its pure and vivid blue color. It comes from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Globe, Arizona, which was once one of the largest turquoise mines in the world. The mine closed in 2012, making the gemstone even more valuable and sought after. Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is highly prized by collectors and jewelry makers for its beauty and durability. It's timeless appeal, and rich history makes it a treasured addition to any collection.
 
What Do the Names of Different Types of Turquoise Resemble?
 
  1. Ajax Turquoise

Ajax Turquoise is a type of turquoise from the Ajax mine in Nevada, USA. It is known for its distinctive greenish-blue color with a black or brown matrix. The Ajax mine has been closed since the 1970s, making Ajax Turquoise a rare and highly sought-after gemstone. It is a popular choice for use in Native American jewelry and contemporary jewelry designs.
 
  1. King's Manassa Turquoise

King's Manassa Turquoise is a turquoise found in Manassa, Colorado. It is known for its bright green to blue-green color and dark brown matrix. King's Manassa Turquoise has been mined since the late 1800s and has been used in Native American jewelry for over a century. It is a popular choice for its unique color and its durability. King's Manassa Turquoise is often cut into cabochons for use in rings, necklaces, and other jewelry pieces.
 
  1. New Lander Turquoise

New Lander Turquoise is a rare and valuable turquoise found in the New Lander Mine in Nevada. It is known for its bright blue-green color and unique matrix patterns, varying from black to brown to gold. This type of turquoise is highly sought by collectors and jewelry makers for its beauty and rarity.
 
  1. Blue Gem Turquoise

Blue Gem Turquoise is a highly valued and sought-after turquoise known for its bright blue color and black matrix. It is found in the Royston Mining District in Nevada and has been mined since the early 1900s. Blue Gem Turquoise is known for its hardness and durability, making it a popular choice for jewelry and decorative items. The unique blue color and spiderweb matrix pattern make it highly desirable for collectors and jewelry makers.
 
  1. Pilot Mountain Turquoise

Pilot Mountain Turquoise is a turquoise found in Pilot Mountain, Nevada. It is known for its striking blue-green color and distinctive spiderweb matrix pattern. The stone is highly prized for its hardness and durability, making it a popular choice for jewelry making. Pilot Mountain Turquoise is also believed to have metaphysical properties, including promoting communication, creativity, and spiritual growth.
 
  1. Bisbee Turquoise

Bisbee Turquoise is a highly prized variety from the Bisbee mine in Bisbee, Arizona. It is known for its deep blue-green color and striking matrix patterns. The mine operated from the late 1800s to the mid-1970s, producing some of the finest turquoise in the world. Bisbee Turquoise is rare and highly collectible, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per carat depending on the quality and size of the stone.
 
  1. Stormy Mountain Turquoise

Stormy Mountain Turquoise is a rare and highly sought-after variety of turquoise that is found in the southwestern United States. It is known for its unique blend of colors, which range from deep blue to green and grey. The stone is often characterized by its intricate web-like matrix caused by various minerals. Stormy Mountain Turquoise is treasured by collectors and jewelry makers for its beauty and rarity and is considered one of the most valuable types of turquoise in the world.
 
  1. Morenci Turquoise

Morenci Turquoise is a type of turquoise that is found in southeastern Arizona, USA. It is known for its striking blue color with black, pyrite, and occasionally other mineral inclusions. The Morenci mine has been the primary source of this turquoise since the 1970s. It is highly sought-after for use in Native American jewelry and fine jewelry and has become a popular choice for collectors. The unique color and pattern of Morenci Turquoise make it a standout among other types of turquoise.
 
  1. Smokey Valley Turquoise

Smokey Valley Turquoise is found in a remote area of central Nevada. It is known for its distinctive deep blue-green color and black matrix. Turquoise is often used in Native American jewelry and is highly sought after by collectors. Smokey Valley Turquoise is known for its unique matrix patterns caused by the presence of iron oxide and other minerals in the surrounding rock.
 
  1. Castle Dome Turquoise

Castle Dome Turquoise is a rare and valuable turquoise found in the Castle Dome Mountains of Arizona. It is characterized by its vibrant blue color and black matrix. The mine that produces Castle Dome Turquoise has been closed for decades, making it a highly sought-after gemstone by collectors and jewelry makers.
 
  1. Fox Turquoise

Fox Turquoise is a type of turquoise found in the Cortez mining district of Nevada. It is known for its vibrant blue and green colors, with a unique black or brown matrix. The stone was first discovered in the 1930s by a man named Mike McArthur, who named it after the nearby Fox mine. Today, Fox Turquoise is highly sought after by collectors and jewelry designers for its beauty and rarity.
 
  1. Sonoran Gold Turquoise

Sonoran Gold Turquoise is a type of turquoise mined in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is known for its bright green and gold colors, which come from the presence of copper and iron in the stone. The matrix in Sonoran Gold Turquoise can be brown or black, giving it a unique and distinctive appearance. The superb look of this turquoise helps create a wide range of jewelry patterns. Sonoran Gold Turquoise is considered a rare and valuable variety of turquoise.
 
  1. Cerrillos Turquoise

Cerrillos Turquoise is a turquoise found in the Cerrillos Hills of New Mexico. It is known for its bright blue-green color and distinctive matrix pattern, which can include brown, black, or golden pyrite veins. Cerrillos Turquoise has been mined for over a thousand years and was highly prized by the indigenous people of the Southwest.
 
  1. Godber Turquoise

Godber Turquoise is a rare and highly sought-after turquoise found only in a specific area of Nevada, USA. It is known for its distinctive deep blue-green color, with intricate web-like matrix patterns of brown, black, or yellow. Godber Turquoise is highly prized by jewelry makers and collectors for its unique beauty and rarity. Due to its limited supply, it can be quite expensive, and only a few mines in the region are still actively producing this beautiful gemstone.
 
  1. Cripple Creek Turquoise

Cripple Creek Turquoise is a type of turquoise found in the Cripple Creek mine in Teller County, Colorado. It is known for its bright blue and green colors, often with a spiderweb-like matrix pattern. Cripple Creek Turquoise was mined extensively in the 20th century, but production has slowed recently. It is a popular choice for jewelry makers and collectors due to its unique color, matrix pattern, and American origin.
 
  1. Golden Hills Turquoise

Golden Hills Turquoise is a type of turquoise found in the Golden Hills mine in Kazakhstan. It is known for its golden brown and green color and unique matrix patterns. Golden Hills Turquoise is highly valued for its rarity and beauty and is used in high-end jewelry. It is often called "Golden Turquoise" due to its distinctive coloring.
 
  1. Dry Creek Turquoise

Dry Creek Turquoise is a pale and creamy white turquoise found in the Dry Creek mine in Nevada. It is unique because it lacks the typical blue or green coloration of most turquoise and is instead characterized by a light, creamy base color with a brown or black matrix. Due to its rarity and popularity, Dry Creek Turquoise can be quite expensive.
 
  1. Carico Lake Turquoise

Carico Lake Turquoise is a rare and highly valued form of turquoise found only in a specific region of Nevada. It is known for its bright blue-green color and unique matrix patterns created by the surrounding rock formations. Carico Lake Turquoise has a reputation for being one of the highest quality and most collectable forms of turquoise in the world.

In conclusion, turquoise is a highly valued gemstone that comes in many different types and varieties, each with its unique properties and characteristics. From traditional blue-green turquoise to rare and exotic types like Sleeping Beauty or Persian turquoise, there are many options for those seeking to add this stunning stone to their collection. Whether you prefer a classic look or a more unusual style, there is a type of turquoise that is sure to suit your tastes.

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