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, 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
How do you identify kingman turquoise?+
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Find kingman turquoise on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
