Identification guide · Semi-Precious Stones
How to Identify Turquoise
Turquoise is usually blue, blue-green, and green with a waxy luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 6. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Its streak is white to pale green. It is most often confused with Malachite, Blueschist, and Aquamarine; the tests below separate them.
Turquoise identification checklist
| Color | Blue, Blue-Green, Green | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Waxy | Compare a fresh surface with glass and metal; this luster is softer than either. |
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 6 | It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. |
| Streak | White to pale green | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Good | |
| Fracture | Conchoidal | Broken surfaces show smooth, curved, shell-like scoops. |
| Specific gravity | 2.76 | Ordinary rock-like heft (specific gravity about 2.76), similar to quartz. |
| Crystal system | Triclinic |
Turquoise look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Turquoise is harder (Mohs 6) than Malachite (Mohs 4), so Turquoise will scratch Malachite and not the other way round. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. Turquoise vs Malachite →
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Turquoise vs Blueschist →
Aquamarine is harder (Mohs 7.5) than Turquoise (Mohs 6), so Aquamarine will scratch Turquoise and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Turquoise vs Aquamarine →
Agate is harder (Mohs 7) than Turquoise (Mohs 6), so Agate will scratch Turquoise and not the other way round. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will.
Is my Turquoise real?
- Hardness: real Turquoise sits at Mohs 6. Glass imitations are about 5.5, so use a steel file and a known reference mineral rather than glass alone.
- Bubbles: round gas bubbles under a 10x loupe mean glass or resin, never a natural stone.
- Color: dyed material concentrates color in cracks and pores; look for pigment collecting at the edges of fractures.
- Temperature: natural crystals feel cool and take longer to warm in your hand than plastic or resin.
Field tips
- Check whether the specimen's color and texture match typical Turquoise examples.
- Use hardness, streak, luster, grain size, and locality together; no single trait is enough for every specimen.
Turquoise identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Turquoise?
Check the color (blue, blue-green, and green), the waxy luster, a Mohs hardness of 6 and a white to pale green streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Turquoise?
Turquoise has a Mohs hardness of 6. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will.
What is the difference between Turquoise and Malachite?
Turquoise (Mohs 6, waxy luster) and Malachite (Mohs 4, silky luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Turquoise vs Malachite comparison for a side-by-side table.
How do I know if my Turquoise is real?
Real Turquoise matches the hardness listed above, shows no round gas bubbles under magnification, and does not concentrate dye in cracks. Glass and resin fakes fail at least one of those checks.
Is Turquoise worth anything?
Entry-level Turquoise specimens sell for around $20, typical collector pieces about $100, and premium examples $1000 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Turquoise?
Turquoise is most often blue, blue-green, and green. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
