Birds and Nature, Vol. 10 No. 4 [November 1901]Various
History
Birds and Nature, Vol. 10 No. 4 [November 1901]
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
is called Mount Chalchihuitl, in allusion to an Indian name that is
supposed to have been applied to Turquois. The mountain is evidently of
volcanic origin. The color of most of the Turquois from this locality is
apple-green rather than the highly prized blue, but some gems of a good
blue have been obtained. Mr. Geo. F. Kunz, writing in 1890 of the sale
of gems from this locality, says that the Indians usually dispose of
them at the rate of twenty-five cents for the contents of a mouth, which
is where they usually carry them. Several other localities in New Mexico
are worked for Turquois. In Cochise County, Arizona, is a locality known
as Turquois Mountain, where considerable mining is carried on. Turquois
is also mined in Gila County, Arizona; Lincoln County, Nevada, and San
Bernardino County, California. Several of these localities have been
opened up recently, the present popularity of the gem perhaps having
stimulated its output.
The much higher price commanded by Turquois of a blue color has led to a
counterfeiting of this color by staining green Turquois or other stones
with Prussian blue.
Mr. Geo. F. Kunz in his “Gems and Precious Stones of North America”
describes a method of detecting this stain. It consists in washing the
stone with alcohol and, after wiping it, to remove any grease, laying it
for a moment in a solution of ammonia, when the blue color, if
artificial, will largely disappear.
At how early a date Turquois began to be prized as a gem is not known.
The word Turquois is a French word meaning Turkish, or a Turkish gem,
and came to be applied because the gem was introduced into Europe by way
of Turkey. It is probable that the gem has been in use from the remotest
past among Oriental peoples and it is certainly still highly prized by
them. Not the least of the reasons for which it is held in high esteem
by them as well as by many Occidental individuals is the good fortune it
is supposed to bring to its possessor. One of the proverbs of the
Orientals is, “A Turquois given by a loving hand carries with it
happiness and good fortune,” and another, “The Turquois pales when the
well-being of the giver is in danger.” Numerous other superstitions
cling around the Turquois. One of these, due probably to slight changes
of color which the stone may undergo under certain climatic influences,
is that if the owner of a Turquois sickens it will grow pale, and at his
death lose its color entirely, but it will regain its color if placed on
the finger of a new and healthy master.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account