Turquoise

Turquoise is a popular, opaque blue-to-green mineral prized as a gemstone, chemically a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum, formed in arid regions where water interacts with copper-rich rocks. Valued for millennia, it's known for its distinctive color, often appearing as a solid mass of microscopic crystals, cut into cabochons, and sometimes featuring veins (matrix) of other rock, symbolizing luck, protection, and strength in various cultures, from ancient Egypt to Native Americans.