Green Turquoise

When most people think of turquoise, the typical teal/blue colour usually comes to mind. Historically, blue turquoise varieties were most sort after, while green turquoise was thought to be inferior. It was believed by the ancients that blue turquoise did not lose colour over time, and that stones with lesser blues would eventually fade to green. However, history has shown that this is not the case. Since recent times, the demand for green turquoise has increased. In fact, there are several green turquoise varieties that are now considered to be some of the top ranked turquoise available today, including many of Nevada's turquoise and also China's 'Skyhorse' and 'China Mountain' varieties.

Turquoise is coloured by traces of copper. Its greens can range from shades of bluish-green to apple-green or lime-green. Generally, if turquoise forms with less copper and more aluminum, the material tends to be green. But when zinc is also present, it can result in a rare lime-green color; a rare hue found only in a few areas, including Mongolia and the United States.