Kingman Turquoise is a highly sought-after variety from Arizona known for its vibrant sky-blue color and distinctive dark matrix patterns. It typically occurs in massive, opaque nodules found in hydrothermal veins and is a classic choice for Southwestern jewelry and lapidary work.
Is this kingman turquoise?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch kingman turquoise with a known reference. Kingman Turquoise sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kingman Turquoise leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kingman Turquoise typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, green, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Kingman Turquoise vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Kingman Turquoise is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-6 vs. 2-4); luster reads waxy on Kingman Turquoise and vitreous on Chrysocolla.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Kingman Turquoise and vitreous on Smithsonite.
Often found alongside kingman turquoise
Minerals reported to co-occur with kingman turquoise. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 2.6-2.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Volcanic Rock
- Typical price
- $10-100 per gram depending on matrix and color
Where rockhounds find kingman turquoise
Classic worldwide localities
- Kingman, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal volcanic rock country — that is the host setting where kingman turquoise typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, pyrite, kaolinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kingman turquoise on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
