Turquoise

A complex gem prized for thousands of years for its incredible robins egg blue reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea which gets its color from copper. It was even used in jewelry in ancient Egypt! Turquoise is formed when water containing dissolved copper and aluminum flows through cracks in rocks to eventually chemically combine to create the notorious turquoise crystals. Pyrite also known as fools gold is a common inclusion in Turquoise which creates an incredible contrast between the brassy metallic gold color and the vibrant light blue

Hardness: 5 – 6
Composition: CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O