December Birthstone: Turquoise
Chemical Makeup: CuAl6(PO4)4 (OH)8.5H2O2
With its hallmark bright blue green color, Turquoise has been prized by humans for more than 6,000 years, and it was a very early indicator of wealth and worldliness among many cultures. Unlike many gemstones, turquoise is formed by a sedimentary process, meaning that the stone is an opaque porous compound. It can only be made in dry, arid conditions, which is why the Southwestern United States has some of the most plentiful turquoise mines. Large turquoise deposits can also be found in Iran, Egypt, and China.
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