Turquoise Gemstone

Turquoise Gemstone and Its Meanings

The original meaning of Turquoise is "Turkish stone" or "stone of Turkey" as it came into Europe via Turkey. Turquoise represents strength, protection, psychic sensitivity, and spiritual connection. It has long been used in protection amulets and also as a symbol of wealth.

Turquoise Meanings & Healing Properties

Turquoise stone is believed to have healing properties and as such is very popular with healers. It also has many meanings and symbolism - some generic and universal, and some more related to different cultures and times.

These are beliefs and not provable facts and are presented here to be used at your own discretion and not as a substitute for medical attention.

Turquoise & Meanings

• innocence - a defender of virtue
• attracts money, love, and happiness
• pledge of affection (when the stone is given to someone (not bought))
• protection
• courage
• friendship
• peace at home
• promotes spontaneity in romance
• stimulates the initiation of romantic love

Turquoise Healing Properties
Turquoise is often considered a master healing stone.

• balances and aligns all the chakras and subtle bodies and helps elevates the energies to a higher level
• highly spiritual stone but also grounding
• for positive states of mind
• opens the heart for giving and receiving
• neutralize over-acidity
• alleviates rheumatism, gout, viral infections, stomach problems
• relaxes cramps
• soothes physical pains
• posses anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties (from alcohol, poison, pollution, sun radiation

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Turquoise Tradition in Different Cultures

Orient: given to riders and steeds. It was believed to protect the wearer from falling (especially from horses). Turquoise was also considered a protection against the "evil eye".

Russia: Brides were often given a silver ring the turquoise stone. This was meant to bring peace of mind to the woman and grant the man strength for labor, prosperity, and health.

Native Americans: prized turquoise quite highly, often carving them into animal shapes. Turquoise was believed to attract beneficial spirits as they embodied the Heavens in their blue, and the Earth in their greens. These might be place in tombs to protect the dead.

Native American warriors often fixed turquoise at the end of their bows to ensure accuracy in their shooting. Native Americans continue to feature a lot of turquoise even in their modern art and jewellery.

Tibet: Turquoise is also very popular in Tibet and much of their traditional and contemporary jewelry will feature turquoise. Turquoise will also change colour over time, which to the Tibetans, symbolizes the cycle of life and death. Apart from jewelry, Tibetans used to traditionally carve turquoise into ritual objects.

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Caring For Turquoise

• store it separately from harder stones to avoid the turquoise being scratched and damaged
• store away form high heat and chemicals. Chemicals like oils, perfumes, and household cleaners can affect even stabilized turquoise.
• clean turquoise with warm, sudsy water and dry immediately with soft cloth.
• do not use commercial jewelry cleaners

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Turquoise FAQs

How is Turquoise Formed?

It is a complex process that takes millions of years. Turquoise is formed when water percolates through rocks that contain copper, aluminium, and/or other minerals. It is from a chemical reaction between these that result in a deposit which we know as turquoise.

Why do Turquoise Stones Come in Different Colours?

The blue in natural turquoise is the result of copper being present during its formation. If there had been more aluminium present, the color would tend towards green. A yellow-green turquoise is very rare and only occurs if zinc was present in its formation.

Why are there more Colours in Turquoise stones these days?

Turquoise is a porous stone. Its hardness can vary. Turquoise can be so soft and porous that it is chalk-like and unsuitable for use.

Stabilized turquoise is when epoxy resin or some other substance has been infused into the pores of a soft turquoise - making them hard enough for use. Stabilized turquoise is no longer porous. Chemicals can be used in the process to enhance and change the colour of turquoise. Hence it is not uncommon to find turquoise on the market in a variety of colours. The colors in a stabilized turquoise will not change over time.

Most of the turquoise found in modern jewelry has been treated or enhanced in some ways. If only high-end turquoise was available, then it would prohibit many jewelry makers and wearers from ever having any turquoise jewelry and ornaments at all.

What are the Dark Markings in Turquoise?

The markings are actually the foundation rock that the turquoise was deposited and formed in. These foundation stone markings are called the matrix. When the turquoise stone is cut, some of these markings remain bound to and part of the stone. The matrix color will vary depending on the base rock on which it was formed.

Spider webbing refers to very fine lines of matrix that are distributed throughout the stone.

Below are some possible base rock that might result in various matrix coloration.

• Black matrix - iron pyrite
• Yellow matrix - rhyolite
• Brown matrix - iron oxide

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Other References

Stones Information

The Meaning of Stones

The Meaning of Turquoise