Welcome

Welcome to my blog, Turquoise Tidbits. I fell in love with turquoise when I took a trip across the United States a number of years ago. One of the places we went was the four-corners area of the southwest. We went into a store in Gallup, New Mexico and saw showcases of turquoise jewelry. Most of it was way beyond my pocketbook, but I bought a sterling silver and turquoise ring. Since then I have done some research about turquoise and would like to share what I have learned with you.

Turquoise is a mineral. It is formed when copper salts and iron are trapped in rocks in arid regions of the world. Copper lends its blue colors and turquoise rich in iron has the greens. I have found two scientific names: hydrous copper phosphate and hydrous aluminum phosphate. Anyone know which is right?

This beautiful stone is often thought of as representing the earth: the blue for the sky and green for the earth. Though we associate diamonds with love today, people of the past have believed in turquoise as a love stone. It is one of the gems associated with your 11th wedding anniversary. And it is the birthstone for the month of December.

Over the millennia it has been used to make jewelry, sculptures, amulets, clothing decorations, funeral artifacts, and more. It has even been found on military items such as breastplates and helmets.

More next week.