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It is a mineral known as
hydrated copper aluminium phosphate
mineral.
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Its chemical formula is CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·5H2O.
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It is rarely found in
crystal form. It is classified as
a cryptocrystalline mineral. This
means that the crystals that form it are
so small that they are difficult to
discern without the aid of a
microscope.
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It is a soft mineral,
with a hardness score of less than 6.
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It is highly porous,
which is why it is often sealed with wax
or epoxy.
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It is opaque, not
transparent, and has a waxy luster.
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Its color range includes
deep blues, light blues, bluish greens,
greenish blues and even yellow green.
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Turquoise can be spotted,
often with pyrite.
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Turquoise often has veins
that are sometimes referred to as spider
webs. These lines can be light brown to
almost pitch black. Turquoise with
these veins are often referred to as
"spider web turquoise;" the phrase
"turquoise matrix" is also used often.
Turquoise has the following properties and
characteristics: