Turquoise occurs as many different types, and thats because each locale from which this stone derives imparts a discernible and unique personality to the stone. The host rock of turquoise has a lot to do with specific characteristics of hardness and color, though turquoise forms in the same basic way, as a Hydrated Phosphate of Copper and Aluminum, in the same basic colors of blue and green, where ever it is found, and that is because of copper somewhere in the nearby vicinity. It is the degraded forms of copper which actually give turquoise its color. As an aside, though related, it is thought that a lot of this same degraded copper material may have also been directly responsible for the rediscovery of smelting, because the powders of malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, and even turquoise were probably used to color early pottery. After the firing of the pottery there were surely metal droplets within the bottom of the furnaces, and this led to the Chalcolithic Period, which quickly became the Bronze Age.

Turquoise is possibly the most valuable, non-transparent mineral used in jewelry. It has been mined since at least 6000 BC by Egyptians. Like other opaque such as coral, turquoise is commonly sold by the size in millimeters rather than by weight.

Turquoise is usually found sandstone layers and can be seen as splotches or as a network of brown or black veins running through the sandstone. There are many small-scale mining operations that are worked by hand. Only one mine in Apache Canyon California operates at a commercial capacity today.

With a hardness of just under 6, about the hardness of window glass, this gemstone takes a good polish. It comes in white, blue, green, brown, yellow and all of the shades in between. The value of the turquoise you will find is determined by the richness of color. Robin’s egg is usually the most valuable. The more of a green hug or lightening of color will decrease the value. Turquoise should never be soft or chalky in color.

When you walk through Dillard's, Macy's, Nordstrom's and so forth you usually see a beaded turquoise necklace(http://www.gets.cn/wholesale-Turquoise-Necklace-38.html) or bracelet. These stone can vary in value and consistency. For those of us that travel through the southwest we see the same difference in the hundreds of vendors who sell their crafts up and down the Arizona and New Mexico highways.

There are variations to consider when choosing jewelry for you or a loved one. Most of the cheaper Turquoise sold in departments is Turquoise from over seas. The Turquoise from over seas is mined cheaper and the jewelry is constructed for a cheaper price so the profit margin can be higher. Once you have looked at enough Turquoise you can tell pretty easily what is Turquoise from over seas and what Turquoise is state side. The Matrix in over seas Turquoise is pretty different.