Turquoise

Consisting of the chemical elements copper, aluminum, phosphorus, hydrogen, and oxygen in the form of water, Turquoise permits the inclusion of various elements. When incorporated into the molecular structure of turquoise, these additional minerals influence appearance and rigidity.

The formation turquoise is rare, requiring a specific balance of minerals being dissolved, transported, and deposited in precise concentrations within hollows among subsurface rocks. Remaining within these host rocks for millions of years above the water table.

Most turquoise is found in areas where the original rock formations have been altered through the intrusion of other rocks resulting from thermal activity. The hydrothermal alteration is created by magma being forced to the surface through fissures, eventually changing the original rocks due to intense heat and chemical reactions between the new and the original substrate. This coupled with the chemical breakdown of specific surface rocks creates the unlikely environment necessary for turquoise formation.

The requirements necessary to create turquoise include a source of copper; phosphorus collocated with the copper, usually from the mineral, and feldspar for the aluminum. There must be a deep hydrothermal alteration that breaks down the feldspars and frees the aluminum needed for the turquoise. The phosphorus usually comes from phosphoric acid leached from the apatite. The copper is usually introduced into the "host" rocks by the rising hot magma. The copper readily oxidizes near the surface and when in solution it reacts freely with the aluminum and phosphoric acid to form turquoise. At this time other minerals enter into the turquoise structure and create color variations.