The Turquoise- Oriental and Occidental

THE TURQUOISE:

There are two species of oriental turquoise, the old rock and the new rock; and there is also an occidental turquoise.

The terms old rock and new rock were applied to the turquoise in Persia. "The mine of turquoise," says Tavernier, "which furnishes the most beautiful stones, is three days' journey from Meshed, turning to the north-west after passing the large town of Nishabourg; it is the old rock. The other, which is five days' journey, was discovered and worked more recently; it furnishes turquoises of a whitish blue, and almost valueless; it is the new rock."

When Tavernier travelled in the East the King of Persia had already for a long time reserved for himself all the products of the old rock. He had ornaments made of them, which he presented to princes and kings.

When the embassy was sent by the King of Persia to Louis XIV., among the many rich presents conveyed to the French monarch were a large quantity of turquoises. But all those who saw them were unanimous in deciding that they were noways remarkable, and by no means answered the idea that had prevailed in Europe, of the much vaunted turquoises of the old rock. Perhaps the mine was already more or less exhausted.

Oriental Turquoise.--This is another aluminous stone; but alumina forms hardly more than half of its composition.

The blue colour, so characteristic of the turquoise, is due, in great part at least, to a combination of phosphoric acid, copper, and iron, and probably also to water, of which it contains 18 or 19 parts in 100.

The turquoise harmonizes well with diamonds and pearls, and is frequently employed in jewelry. It is consequently an object of some commercial consideration; but as it is pretty abundant it does not reach a high price, unless in specimens of a very unusual size.

At the sale of M. Dree's cabinet, a turquoise of the old rock, measuring .47 inch by .43 inch, was sold for $93; and as an example of the wide difference between the turquoises of the old and the new rock, there was sold at the same sale, for $22.50, a turquoise of the new rock, .39 inch by .37 inch, of the most beautiful sky-blue tint.

The turquoise is the stone that the orientals employ most frequently for amulets. Sentences are frequently engraved upon them, and generally quoted from the Koran.

Occidental Turquoise.--The occidental turquoise is a substance altogether special in its composition, and above all in its organic origin.