Ancient Turquoise

Mask of Xiutecuhlti, god of fire

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium. It is rare and valuable in fine grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years. Turquoise was among the first gems to be mined.

Aztec turquiose

Turquoise has adorned the rulers of Ancient Egypt, the Aztecs, Persia, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and in ancient China since at least the Shang Dynasty. In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, turquoise was a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman to ward off misfortune.

See ----->California Turquoise