Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-06-10
THE TURQUOISE.
Whore rt Is Found and Why II
Is Losing It's Value.


There are few gems more commonly
seen on jcwclry than the blue turquoise.
Its beauty. its serviccablc hardness, its
pleasing contrast with gold and it,
moderate price, explain why it is so
much esteemed. Only few cxcep-
tionally fine specimens of the stone
rank with the erich aud rare" gems.
In the unlikely event of Persia being at
war with all the rest of the world, it
would. no doubt. become scarce and
dear outside the dominion Of the Shah,
since it is only in that country that the
mineral in state lit for the jeweler' S
purpose is found. Much and widely
as the turquoise is used for personal
ornaments. the supply has for some
time considerably exceeded the demand
except for tine stones Of an uncommon
size. But, rs is the case with all
precious stones. unusually large pieces
those approaching the size of hazel
nut. for cxample--when Of good quail
~, are eagerly sought after, and have
high intrinsic value.
The turquoise has in I'll likelihood
been used as Il gem from avery remote
antiquity. since the range of mountains
where il is plentifully found is situated
at no great distance from the southern
shores of the Caspian Sea, near 10, il
not within, the area believed by many
20 have been the cradle of the human
race. BY some scholars, il is thought
highly probable that the turquoise was
used for inlaying the delicate and
beautiful gold-work of ancient Greece;
and at all events, there is cameo
portrait of classic Greek Prince in
this mineral among the specimens in
the famous collection of Marlborough
gems. There is some doubt about the
name this precious stone was known
by in Pliny's time. He mentions that
the calais, which was probably the
turquoise. was found in Asia, where it
occurred projecting from the surface
OF inaccessible rocks, whence it was
obtained by means of slings; but these
were the days of fables. That it was
known to the ancient Romans is, how
ever, proved by the fact that there still
exist some. though only very few, OF
their works OF art cut in this mineral.
Want of certainty about the name
applied 10 the turquoise in classic times
leaves us in doubt rs to what mystic
virtues were then attributed to it. But
in the middle ages the turquoise, like
other gems, was believed TO have Won
derful properties; indeed, twas credit
ed with more supernatural virtues than
most OF them. The wearer Of it had
both his sight strengthened and his
spirits cheercd; he enjoyed immunity
from the consequences Of fall by the
gem itself breaking. in order to save
his bones. and his turquoise, like him.
self. turned pale IL he became sick
When its possessor died IL entirely lost
its color, but recovered it again on pass
ing into the hands of new owner. In
some mysterious way. when suspended
by string, it correctly struck the
hours on the inside Of glass vessel.
Other precious stones have lost all the
marvellous powers that belonged to
them for centuries; the emerald no
longer relieves the fatigued eyesight;
the diamond can not now dispel fear;
the sapphire. though still cold to the
touch. has ceased TO be able to extin-
guish fire. In these perverse days the
hail-storm comes down upon the wear
or Of an amethyst and bright red coral
attracts rather than repels robbers.
But the turquoise still retains one of
its mysterious properties. and flaunts
II in the face Of modern science. Some
times slowly, sometimes suddenly, it
unaccountably turns pale, becomes
spotted or changes from blue to white;
and specimens that behave in this Ca
PRECIOUS manner are found more COM
monty than those whose color is dis
tinctly permanent
The turquoise is called in chemical
language a hydrated phosphate Of
alumina. This means that 1t consists
mainly Of phosphoric acid and alum
ina. along with nearly twenty per cent
of water. II owes its color TO small
quantities Of compounds of copper and
iron. 1t occurs blue. green and blush
green; but the change to pale.
mottled, or white color, which inferior
turquoises undergo, generally takes
place soon after they are taken from
the mine. These colors are opaque.
or only very slighay translucent and