Gemstone Focus: Turquoise

Turquoise is a much-loved gemstone that has been used in ornamentation for thousands of years.  It’s unique blue-green colour is created by a very specific combination of phosphorous, copper, and aluminium.  Large deposits of the mineral have been found in Iran, the Sinai Peninsula, the Southwest USA, Tibet, and China.  Its hue can vary depending on the area where it is found.

Unfortunately, turquoise deposits have been heavily mined.  This means that top-quality genuine turquoise can be prohibitively expensive for most people.  This is why crafters and jewellers have come to rely on gemstones that are less expensive and easier to find.

One alternative is stabilized and reconstituted turquoise.  In this process, small fragments are treated with pressure and resins to form a solid material that is actually stronger than natural turquoise.  Given that turquoise is a naturally fragile stone, this is a great option if you intend to wear your turquoise jewelry often.

Another alternative is to simply use a different stone.  Amazonite has a natural blue-green colour, but is is also far more translucent than turquoise.  There is also African turquoise, which is actually a blue-green jasper.  It has a much more “natural“ look than stabilized turquoise, and a larger variety of colours.  Unfortunately, high-quality batches of this stone is also becoming difficult to find.

As far as meditation practice is concerned, blue-green stones are a favourite of Buddhists who are devoted to Tara.  Tara is often described as a blue-green goddess who bestows many blessings on her devotees.