Turquoise has been prized in jewelry and ornamentation since before 5000 BC. In fact, this gemstone was used to adorn King Tutankhamun’s death mask. The name turquoise comes from the French word for Turkish stone because it was first brought to Europe via Turkey.
Colors range from sky blue to green, with green indicating the presence of iron and blue indicating copper. Today turquoise is sometimes recovered as a byproduct of large-scale copper mining. It’s found in the US, Mexico, Afghanistan, Egypt, Chile, China, Australia, Israel, Iran and Argentina.
Known as a purification stone, turquoise can be used to dispel negative energy and promote serenity. It’s also thought to bring wisdom, luck and protection.
