The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-12-15
ON
TURQUOISE GIVEN
BY SMITHSONIAN
National Scientific Institution
Publishes Data on Gem
Found 0ftenest in New
Mexico.

The division Of mlneralogy Of the
United States National Museum at
WNashington has on exhibition a
large collection Of the gem known as
turquoise. In The exhibits OF the divi-
sion ct a-nthropology additional speci-
mems are TO be seen. which TACT goes
to resell for It's historical value and
is close relations Co tho life OF man
Dr. Joseph =. poguc. late OF the mu-
scum stan, has made an exhaustive
study ct this mineral which has re-
Gently been published.
The turquoise is an opaque mineral
priced mainly FOR rs perfection OF
color. since II lacks the brilliant lus-
tor which forms the chief charm II
transparent gems Specimens of tho
finest quality possess q soft and pleas
ms blue tone IKE he color 90 the
sky. called i'm the trade sky-hlue or
robin's-egR blue. but the vsiuc IL
often lessened by o grc-niah east,
while in many stones the green pre-
dominates II occurs near the surface
OF the earth. where u Is readily
found aud mined Being but slightly
harder than glass. 81 may be worked
with ease, even hy primitive people
who possess only the rudes tools.
Chemically the turpoise is q ph3s-
phate Of aluminium carr. small
quantities OF copper and IRON. TO
hwtch ~ color is due With vpriscite.
"a green mineral of similar character
but less value and beauty. 10 Is the
only phosphate 60 find e place among
he precious stones. Like many min
erals this stone has more han one
origin u o. usually formed. how
ever. by the pervolatlon ol surface
water through aiuminous rocks con-
tanning apatite and disseminated cop
per minerals.
Although al the present day TINS
stone is outrauktd ny the diamond
ruby, sapphire and other gem. among
the civilized peoples. with stmi-ciyi-
llzed peoples h takes foremost rank
its value depending not only pom It's
Intrinsic worth. but Also upon tie
mystic properties and religious sig
n%.hcance IL is supposed 10 posse>s. II
Is the most highly priced possession
OF thc navajo indian of tine deserts
oi Ar.zoua and the Hedou.u OF d
plains of Arabia. while the Tl.ctun
and Mongulian natives esteem tins
gem mo- less thar du the Hopi and
l Luui pueblo dWelicrs iu our own
~irouthwcrt By virtue Of this general
use iu parts OF me orient Amer
,lel. ana rs Introduction into legends
ana myths of diverse and Widely seu-
atat'd peoples. the turquoise las c"u-
siderable ethuulugic interest.
L. From the 0Hwn 81 civilization down
To the present day the turquoise has
played 100 important role aud found
g. variety cod ornamental and religious
uses. Not only was % alwafs held lu
high esteem. hue q was frequently IN.
vested with marvellous virtues. From
the tombs Of the earliest Egyptian
kings has come beautiful j.Nelry in
laIu with turuuuiscs from fuy Sinai
peninsula tn, inhabitants ol Central
Asia nave long valued the turquoise
ana been lavish ln its use, while the
rptsl.us ard uoighburlug faces 90
western Asia have from time immc-
mortal drawn upon the famous Nlsh-
apur deposits near the Caspian sea
The mineral was probably Is, uwu 10
Europe even prior 20 the beginning
ut the christian era. builug tur Mid
die Ages and thereafter Europeans
esteemed this Persian stone, winch
came to them Bog way uf TurIDy. and
u was probably named accom- dinghy,
nrst the Turk,. stone. ana then the
turquoise. ~ the time of tn, Span
/ ish conquest uuocr Cortos. the Aztec
of old Mexico employed turquoise aud
r@.hul,hihuiu similar stone of
grcculsh hue. Iu many ul their ccro-
monies. Thosy Spaniards. entering
th. region uoW occupied by Sew Mos
lpY and Arizona. found the turquoise
lheI, also held iu high regard. and
recent excavations ln the any ont pu-
c1lus and ,Uu dwellings ui these
states have revealed many t|urqguiec
ornaments whIuh reflect great credit
upon the artist. ability ul those early
workers
Turquoise Occurs 100 but few places
uu the globe. most of them barren
uud arid, get 100 uearly every place
whore % has .,eu found prehistoric
mining sites uHto also been disc1y-
cred .huviuH that the aueiruts knew
nearly aI tu. .uoalltiua of this inter
cstiuE stone. Productive deposits are
found Boa Asia. notably ot NlshHpur 900
Persia Ions 'l" most important TO-
'ults In thr world, aud at several
places .n Central Asin, ON thc SINAI
Il HU.I.HH.I..- HI.. L#.HAHIIII .. .NN.F L.."..