Recognizable by the distinctive color that's named after it, and often used in jewelry and other adornments, turquoise has been sought after for thousands of years and is generally considered one of the World's most ancient gems. Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphorus mineral and color can vary from greens to blues. Veins of matrix accompanying the turquoise are the remains of the rock that hosted the mineral as it formed, and can be black, brown, or yellow in color.
Turquoise can be an expensive mineral to purchase, and due to its cost and relative high demand, it's often faked. Howlite (a white mineral) is dyed blue to resemble turquoise. Fakes are also made with ceramics, porcelain and plastics. The example of fake turquoise to the left was made by encasing a white powder (possibly plaster) in resin, submerging the creation in dye and then adding the "matrix". When the piece is sliced open, the thin outer coating and central body of powder are visible.
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