Rough Turquoise from Madagascar
Beautiful turquoise stones from Madagascar. A relatively soft and delicate material that grades 5 to 6 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Turquoise is porous and sensitive to heat but in direct sunlight the colour is generally stable.
Pollutants in the atmosphere which includes perfumes, hairsprays and moisture and oil from the skin (mainly from fingertips) can leave marks or affect the stone's colour. In extreme circumstances it can even crack. Turquoise does not respond well to being cleaned so prevention is better than cure.
One of only a few natural minerals to have given its name to a colour, turquoise is recognised and in some cases revered by many cultures around the world. Giving this stone as a gift is said to reward the recipient with good fortune and peace.
Each of these Madagascan rough turquoise stones was individually chosen during one of our trips to South Africa.
Although usually protected with a resin, we recommend stones be handled as little as possible.
