The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-01-06
TURQUO|s, MYSTIC GEM
PEOPLE. WHO PRIZE IT
INTERESTING GEM THAT IS STILL
HIGHLY VALUED FOR SUP
POSED PROPERTIES.

The division of mineralogy of tn
TTnited States National Museum a
+ washington has on exhibition a larg
collection of the gem known as tur
ouoise. In the exhibits of the division
~ anthropology additional specimen
are to be seen, which goes to voucl
for its historical value and its clos,
relations to the life of man. DIR. Jos
eph E. Pogue, late of the museum
staff. has made an exhaustive study
If this mineral, which has recent,
been published.
The turquoise Is an Opaque minera
prized mainly for its perfection of col
or since 1t lacks the brilliant lustre
which forms the chief charm of trans.
parent gems. Specimens of the finest
quality possess a soft and pleasing
blue tone like the color of the sky
called in the trade sky-blue or robins
egg blue but the value is often les
sened by q greenish cast, while in
many stones the green predominates.
It occurs near the surface of the earth,
where it is readily found and mined.
Being but slightly harder than glass,
it may be worked with ease, even by
primitive people who possess only the
crudest tools.
Chemical Composition.
Chemically, the turquoise is phos-
phate Of aluminium carrying a small
quantity of copper and iron, to which
its color is due. With variscite,
green mineral of similar character but
less value and beauty, 1t is the only
phosphate to find a place among the
precious stones. Like many minerals,
this stone has more than origin 1t is
usually formed, however by the per-
collation. of surface water through al
luminous rocks containing apatite and
disseminated copper minerals
Although at the present day this
stone is outranked by the diamond
ruby sapphire and other gems among
the civilized people, with semi-civiliz-
ed peoples it takes foremost rank, says
the New York Evening Post, it's value
depending not only upon its intrinsic
WORTH but also upon the mystic prop
critics and religious significance it is
highly priced possession of the Navajo
Indian of the deserts of Arizona and
the Beduin of the plains of Arabia, !
while the Tibetan and Mongolian ma
tives esteem this gem no less than do
the Hopi and Zuni pueblo jewellers in |
our own southwest. BY virtue of this
general use in parts of the orient and
America and its introduction into leg
ends and myths of diverse and widely |
scattered peoples, the turquoise has |
considerable ethnologic interest.
Where Highly Valued.
From the dawn of civilization down
to the present day the turquoise has |
played an important role and found
variety of ornamental and religious |
uses. Not only was it always held ir
high esteem, but it was frequently in
vested with marvellous virtues. From
the tombs of the earliest Egyptian
Kings has come beautiful jewelry sin
laid with turquoises from the Sina
peninsula. The inhabitants of Cen
trail Asia have long valued the tur-
quoise and been lavish in its use,
while the Persians and neighboring
races of western Asia have from time
lmmemorial drawn upon the famous
Nishapur deposits near the Caspian
sea.
Inc mineral was probably known in
Europe even prior to the beginning of
tne Christian era. During the middle
ages and thereafter, Europeans es-
teemed this Persian stone, which came
TO them by way of Turkey, and it was
probably named accordingly, first, the
turkey stone, and then the "Tur-
quoise." At the time Of the Spanish
conquest under Cortes, the Aztecs of
ola Mexico employed turquoise and
chalchihuitl," similar stone of
sreenish hue in many of their cere-
monies. These Spaniards, entering the
region now occupied by New Mexico
ana Arizona, found the turquoise there
also held in high regard, and recent
excavations in the ancient pueblos and
Gin dwellings, Of these states have re-
Vealed many turquoise ornaments that
reflect great credit upon the artistic
aohlty of those early workers,