TURQUOISE


Meaning of TURQUOISE in English

n.

Hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate mineral, CuAl 6 (PO 4 ) 4 (OH) 8 00B7; 5H 2 O, that is used extensively as a gemstone.

The colour of turquoise ranges from blue through various shades of green to greenish and yellowish gray. A delicate sky-blue, which provides an attractive contrast with precious metals, is most valued for gem purposes. Numerous deposits of turquoise in the southwestern U.S. have been worked for centuries by American Indians. The mineral also occurs in Iran, northern Africa, Australia, and Siberia.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.