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California.
Several of these localities have been opened up recently, the present
popularity of the gem perhaps having stimulated its output. Good New
Mexico turquoises are quoted at $5 to $6 per carat at the present time.
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. Kunz describes a method of detecting this stain
which 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." That belief in the turquois as an agent of
good luck was current in Shakespeare's time is shown by the grief which
he represents Shylock as suffering over the loss of his turquois ring.
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. It was supposed to show the presence of poisons by
sweating profusely. It is still used in the East as a remedy for
dyspepsia, hernia, insanity, and cancerous sores Worn as an amulet, it
is supposed to bring happiness, dispel fear, and render its wearer safe
from drowning, lightning, and snake bite. In Egypt it is used to cure
cataract if set in a silver ring, dipped in water, and applied to the
eye with proper incantations. In Germany it is in favor for engagement
rings, owing to the belief that if either party prove inconstant the
stone will make the fickleness known by weakening in color. It is
curious that of the two non-crystallized gems, turquois and opal, one
should be considered lucky and the other unlucky. Both are more liable
to changes of color than other gems, and this fact has probably led to
the ascription of good or ill fortune to them.
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