known as Shirfam (milky). It has also been claimed that the best variety
is the shirfam, followed by the asmani 'aqiq (heavenly agate). Both
these kinds are the original ones: the remaining ones are their derivatives.
One dirharn by weight of the Bu Sahaqi kind fetches a price of ten
dinars.
In 'Iraq it is the even kind that is preferred, whereas the people of
Khurasan have preference for the arch-shaped and spherical turquoise,
which is like a grape in form. Jewellers have been heard to say that the
longest turquoise stone weighed about a hundred dirhains, while the pure
variety without any admixture of extraneous components was not found
to exceed the weight of five dirhams, and the price of such a piece approached one hundred dinars.
It is the self-same turquoise about which it has been said that its
weight should not be taken in conjunction with the standard weight of
the ghubari ruby, as it has rarely been found in a pure state and not
examined. One jeweller's statement is as follows:
I saw an llaqi turquoise which weighed two hundred dirhams. I
fixed its price at fifty dinars at that time. But today its price is two
hundred dinars, as the mine at Ilaq stands exhausted.
Al-Kindi writes that the largest turquoise piece which he had witnessed weighed one awqiyah 94 and a half a mithqal. This weight comes
to about 16 dirhams. Some people do not like the turquoise stone as its
colour accepts atmospheric changes, e.g., a clear sky, a cloudy sky,
winds and fragrances. Washing with hot water affects its brilliance
rather adversely, while oil would take away its lustre. It is not included
among the stones which are petrified by water. It is like clay and petrifies like it. If it loses its lustre on being rubbed with oil, the lost hustre is
revived by fat of sheep's tail. It is, therefore, better kept by butchers, especially by those who do the skinning with their own hands. There is
another mine nearby. Shibali stone is mined there. The mine is extensive and spoons, etc., are made from the stone. It is soft and alters with
the application of oils.
It is God who prospers and assists.
Stories About the Turquoise
A member of the diplomatic mission from Ghaznah which visited the
court of the ruler of Shiraz has stated that he saw in the palace of Sultan al-Dawlah bin Baha' al-Dawlah al-Daylami a large turquoise piece, the
size of an apple. It was suspended in front of the curtain of the chambers.
Nasr writes:
Abu 'Ali Rustami Kadkhudah of Isfahan had a dinner set made of
turquoise. when Murdawiz bin Ziyad destroyed his house, this
