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Turquoise
Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8ยท4H2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In recent times, turquoise has been devalued, like most other opaque gems, by the introduction onto the market of treatments, imitations and synthetics.
The gemstone has been known by many names. Pliny the Elder referred to the mineral as callais and the Aztecs knew it as chalchihuitl. The word turquoise dates to the 17th century and is derived from the French turquois for “Turkish” because the mineral was first brought to Europe through Turkey, from mines in the historical Khorasan Province of Persia.
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Aqua (noun)
The compound water.
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Aqua (noun)
A shade of colour, usually a mix of blue and green similar to the colour turquoise.
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Aqua (adjective)
Of a greenish-blue colour.
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Turquoise (noun)
A sky-blue, greenish-blue, or greenish-gray semi-precious gemstone.
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Turquoise (noun)
A pale colour, like that of the gemstone.
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Turquoise (adjective)
Made of turquoise (the gemstone).
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Turquoise (adjective)
Having a pale greenish-blue colour.
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Turquoise (noun)
a greenish-blue colour
“the turquoise waters of the bay”
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Turquoise (noun)
a semi-precious stone, typically opaque and of a greenish-blue or sky-blue colour, consisting of a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium.