Turquoise

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Turquoise

Entry/Object ID

2014.1.37

Description

Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3 Crystal System: Hexagonal System Description: Common Name: Turquoise Chemistry: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8*5(H2O), Group: Phosphates Location: Bad Boy Mine, Colorado Description: Large slab of pure turquoise. No matrix visible. Color is Light greenish-blue. (Turquoise) Physical Charateristics: •Color is of course, turquoise, but this color actually varies from greenish blue to sky blue shades. •Luster is dull to waxy, vitreous in macro-crystals. •Transparency specimens are opaque. •Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1 •Crystal Habits include crystals rarely large enough to see, usually massive, cryptocrystalline forms as nodules and veinlets. •Cleavage is perfect in two direction, but is not often seen. •Fracture is conchoidal and smooth. •Hardness is 5 - 6 •Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 - 2.8 (average) •Streak is white with a greenish tint. •Associated Minerals are pyrite. limonite. quartz and clays. •Other Characteristics: color can change with exposure to skin oils. •Notable Occurances include Arizona and New Mexico, USA; Australia; Iran; Afghanistan and other locallities in the Middle East. •Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, hardness, luster, color and associations. Hardness: 7 Quartz Rock Type: Sedimentary

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2014.1

Source or Donor

Crater Rock Museum (unknown donors)

Acquisition Method

Gift

Dimensions

Height

4-1/4 in

Width

3/4 in

Length

3-1/2 in

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-11

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent

Moved By

Curtis Gardner

Date

December 27, 2023

Location

Shelf

Bottom Row

Cabinet

Case# 20

Wall

West

Building

Freida Smith Hall

Category

Permanent