Turquoise Large Rough Nugget STATEMENT Collectible Necklace

These copper hydrous phosphate and aluminum rocks are mined only for the purposes of making jewelry or ornamental statuettes and trinkets. Blue turquoise and green or blue-green turquoise are the most desirable turquoise colors. There are yellow-green turquoise gemstones but they are not as highly valued. Lengthy exposure to direct sunlight, heat, body oils, perspiration and cosmetic can alter the color of turquoise gemstones. 

Turquoise rocks are mined in Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Chile, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Mexico, the southwestern United States and Tanzania. Turquoise deposits form better in arid climates. The best quality turquoise stones currently come from mines in northeastern Iran and SW in America.  Turquoise gemstones from these areas are commonly robin's egg blue. Chinese or Tibetan turquoise gemstones are green and carry different turquoise meanings. 

Turquoise has been valued for over 7,000 years. Beads made from turquoise in 5000 BC were found in Iraq. Egyptians mined turquoise rocks in Sinai as long ago as 3200 BC. They used it to adorn Tutankhamun's death mask. 

The Aztecs used turquoise gemstones in mosaic masks to represent the gods in keeping with turquoise meaning. They also used turquoise gemstones in ornate inlaid skulls, shields and statues representing the power of Moctezuma who was the last Aztec ruler. 

Native Americans have been mining turquoise stones for about 1,000 years. They use turquoise gemstones to make jewelry and adorn burial sites in keeping with turquoise meaning.

Turquoise meaning embodies power, wisdom, luck, protection and immortality. The extensive use of this blue-green mineral rock throughout the centuries revolves around turquoise meaning. Prehistoric Native Americans used turquoise rocks and jewelry in ceremonies to symbolize "the god of the sky alive in the earth." This turquoise meaning is tied to the blue turquoise color.