Exploring the Types of Turquoise: A Vibrant World of Gemstones

Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones known to humanity, a beautiful stone that holds a unique position in the world of precious gems. Its stunning blue-green color has fascinated civilizations across the globe for millennia. Ranging from sky-blue to grass green, each turquoise variety has its unique characteristics, often identifiable by their unique hue, matrix patterns, and origin. This article explores the various types of turquoise, detailing their features and origins.
 

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, named after the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, Arizona, is renowned for its vivid, sky-blue color. This type of turquoise is favored for its minimal matrix, offering a smooth, even blue that's very popular in the jewelry market. 
 

Originating from modern Iran (historically known as Persia), Persian turquoise has been revered for centuries. It's often recognized by its robin's egg blue or sky-blue color with virtually no matrix. Persian turquoise has traditionally been used in Persian jewelry and decorative arts and is considered a high-grade turquoise.
 

Bisbee Turquoise comes from the Lavender Pit mine in Bisbee, Arizona. It's appreciated for its high quality and unique color spectrum, ranging from blue to green hues, often with a smoky or dark matrix. Bisbee turquoise is relatively rare and hence highly prized by collectors and jewelry makers.
 

Found in the Mineral Park Mine in Kingman, Arizona, Kingman Turquoise is known for its diverse range of blue tones, from light to dark, often interspersed with a black or silver matrix. Kingman turquoise is a favorite among Native American artists and jewelers worldwide.
 

Royston Turquoise is sourced from the Royston mining district located near Tonopah, Nevada. It exhibits a wide color range from deep green to rich, light blues set off by a heavy, brown matrix. The unique color contrast is a distinguishing feature of Royston Turquoise.
 

Morenci turquoise is mined in southeastern Arizona. It is well-known for its bright blue color and an unusual matrix of irregular black pyrite inclusions that, when polished, often resemble silver. The scarcity of Morenci turquoise makes it a highly valued type in the market.
 

Originating from the Carico Lake mine in Nevada, this turquoise is known for its clear, light blue color, often accompanied by a matrix. The Carico Lake mine also produces a unique lime-green turquoise that is highly sought after due to its rarity.
 

Candelaria turquoise comes from the Candelaria mine in Nevada. It is famous for its unique, intense blue coloration and a highly attractive, spiderweb matrix pattern. Its scarcity, due to the closing of the mine, makes it a desirable and valuable turquoise variant.

In conclusion, turquoise is not just a single entity but rather a rich, diverse family of gemstones. Each variety possesses its unique charm and characteristics, appealing to different aesthetics and tastes. Whether it's the sky-blue of Sleeping Beauty, the dark matrix of Bisbee, or the intense blue of Candelaria, there is a type of turquoise for everyone.