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Turquoise

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Vielsalm, Stavelot Massif, Luxembourg Province, Belgium
© JDehove

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Formula:
Cu(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:bright blue, sky-blue, ...
Hardness:5 - 6
Name:From French "turquoise" meaning "Turkish"; the original material from the south slopes of the Al-Mirsah-Kuh Mountains (Iran), found its way to Europe via Turkey.
Isostructural with:Chalcosiderite


Turquoise Group. Chalcosiderite-Turquoise Series. Planerite-Turquoise Series. The copper analogue of Faustite.

A secondary mineral occurring in the potassic alteration zone of hydrothermal porphyry copper deposits. Also formed by the action of meteoric waters, usually in arid regions, on aluminous igneous or sedimentary rocks (as vein filling in volcanic rocks and phosphatic sediments).

Classification of Turquoise

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.15-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DD.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4= 2:1
Dana 7th edition ID:42.9.3.1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.9.3.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.2.8

19 : Phosphates
2 : Phosphates of Cu
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Occurrences of Turquoise

Geological Setting:Secondary mineral in potassic alteration zone of porphry copper deposits. Vein fillings in volcanic rocks and phosphate-rich sediments.

Physical Properties of Turquoise

Lustre:Vitreous, Waxy, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Comment:Dull to waxy in massive varieties, vitreous in crystals.
Colour:bright blue, sky-blue, pale green, blue-green, turquoise-blue, apple-green, green-gray
Streak:Pale greenish blue to white
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6
Cleavage:Perfect
on {001}, good on {010}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.6 - 2.8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.91 g/cm3

Crystallography of Turquoise

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.409(1) Å, b = 7.635(1) Å, c = 9.914(2) Å
α = 111.356°, β = 114.973°, γ = 69.532°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.97 : 1 : 1.298
Unit Cell Volume:V 449.39 ų
Z:1
Morphology:Crystals rare. Steep pinacoidal crystals exhibiting {010}, {110} and {001}. Fine granular, globular crusts, veinlets, massive.
Crystal Atlas:
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Turquoise no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Structure
  Reference
Kolitsch U Giester G (2000) The crystal structure of faustite and its copper analogue turquoise Locality: Iron Monarch iron ore deposit, South Australia. Mineralogical Magazine 64:905-913.

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Turquoise

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.610 nβ = 1.615 nγ = 1.650
2V:Measured: 40° , Calculated: 44°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r < v strong
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:X= colorless
Z= pale blue or pale green

Chemical Properties of Turquoise

Formula:
Cu(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Cu, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cu, Fe, H, O, P
Common Impurities:Fe,Ca

Relationship of Turquoise to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Chalcosiderite (see here)
Forms a series with Planerite (see here)
Related to:
  • Turquoise Group
    • Common Associates:
    WavellitePyriteMontmorilloniteLimoniteKaolinite
    ChalcedonyAllophane
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    8.DD.05Chenevixite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.DD.05Luetheite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Al
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    8.DD.10Akrochordite
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.10Guanacoite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Mg
     
    2
    		(Mg
     
    0.5
    		Cu
     
    0.5
    		)[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.15Aheylite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Zn)Al
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.15Chalcosiderite
    Cu(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al)
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.15Faustite
    (Zn,Cu)Al
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.15Planerite
    Al
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|HPO
     
    4
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4 H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.20Childrenite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)Al[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.20Eosphorite
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)Al[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    8.DD.20Ernstite
    (Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)Al[(OH,O)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    19.2.1Libethenite
    Cu
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
    19.2.2Cornetite
    Cu
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
    19.2.3Reichenbachite
    Cu
     
    5
    		[OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    19.2.4Ludjibaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    19.2.5Pseudomalachite
    Cu
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    19.2.6Nissonite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Mg
     
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    19.2.7Zapatalite
    Cu
     
    3
    		Al
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    19.2.9Sieleckiite
    Cu
     
    3
    		Al
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    19.2.10Planerite
    Al
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|HPO
     
    4
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4 H
     
    2
    		O
    19.2.11Hentschelite
    CuFe
    3+
    2
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    19.2.13Chalcosiderite
    Cu(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al)
     
    6
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    19.2.14Phosphofibrite
    KCuFe
    3+
    15
    		(PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    12
    		(OH)
     
    12
    		 · 12H
     
    2
    		O ?

    Other Names for Turquoise

    Synonyms:
    CalaiteCallaicaCallainaCallais (of Pliny)Chalchihuitl (of Blake)
    ChalchiteChalchuiteForizegoHydrargillite (of Hausmann)Johnite
    Oriental TurquoiseTurquesTurquois
    French names:
    Turquoise de vielle roche
    German names:
    CalaitChalchitChalchuitHenwooditJohnit
    KalaitKallaitOrientalischer TürkisTürkis
    Italian names:
    TurchesaTurcheseTurchesiaTurchine
    Japanese names:
    綠松石
    Latin names:
    Turquois orientale
    Persian names:
    Firuzegi
    Russian names:
    Бирюза
    Spanish names:
    CalaitaChalchitaChalchuitaHenwooditaJohnita
    Turquesa
    Varieties:
    AgaphiteRashleighite

    Other Information

    Other Information:Soluble with difficulty in HCl.

    Often found as pseudomorphs after orthoclase; also after apatite, bone and teeth.
    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
    Industrial Uses:Jewelry stone.

    References for Turquoise

    Reference List:Tavernier (1678) Voy. en Turquie, en Persie, etc., Paris.

    Bocconi (1697) Museo di Fisica, etc.: 278 (as Turchine).

    Fischer (1806) Mem. Soc. nat. Moscou: 1 (as Turquois orientale).

    John (1806) Mem. soc. nat. Moscou: 1 (as Johnite).

    John (1807) Journal für Chemie und Physik, Nuremberg: 3: 93 (as Johnite).

    Onomasticon Min. Mus. Imp. Moscou (1811) (as Calaite).

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 444 (as Hydrargillite).

    Blake (1883) American Journal of Science: 25: 197 (as Chalchuite).

    Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 844.

    Carnot (1894) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 118: 995.

    Penfield (1900) American Journal of Science: 10: 346.

    Schaller (1912) American Journal of Science: 33: 35.

    Schaller (1912) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 50: 120.

    Pogue, J.E. (1915) The Turquois, a study of its history, mineralogy, geology, ethnology, archaeology, mythology, folklore, and technology. National Academy of Science Mem. 12, part 2, 207 pp.

    Davy (1929) Transactions of the Royal Geology Society of Cornwall: 16: 43.

    Hintze, Carl (1931) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3B]: 941.

    Ball (1941) Bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, no. 128 (Uses of turquoise in N. & S. America).

    Pearl (1941) Economic Geology: 36: 335.

    Northrop (1942) University of New Mexico Bulletin no. 379: 313.

    Pearl (1945) Gemmologist, London: 14: 62.

    Graham, R. (1947) X-ray study of chalcosiderite and turquoise. University of Toronto Studies, Geology Series, 52, 39–53.

    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 646.

    American Mineralogist (1953): 38: 964.

    Cid-Dressner, H. (1965) Determination and refinement of the crystal structure of turquois, CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 •4H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 121: 87–113.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 121: 87-113.

    Guthrie, G.D., Jr. and D.L. Bish (1991) Refinement of the turquoise structure and determination of the hydrogen positions. Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting Abstracts with Program, 23(5), 158A (abs.).

    Foord, E.E. & Taggart, J.E. (1998): A reexamination of the turquoise group; the mineral aheylite, planerite (redefined), turquoise and coeruleolactite. Mineralogical Magazine, 62, 93-111.

    Extra Lapis No. 16 (1999).

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 606.

    Kolitsch, U. and G. Giester (2000): The crystal structure of faustite and its copper analogue turquoise. Mineral. Mag. 64, 905-913.

    Internet Links for Turquoise

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  • Turquoise details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Turquoise

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