December's birthstone is turquoise. I enjoyed learning about this gemstone because I now know more about my birthstone and I thought it was very interesting.

The color of turquoise is varied from sky blue, bluish-green, and a pale green. Turquoise has a hardness of 5-6 meaning it is somewhat hard but also a little easily scratched. It does not have a cleavage. Turquoise belongs in the Triclinic crystal system. It may have a waxy luster in rough grades but in lower grades it is dull. Turquoise is composed of a hydrous phosphate of aluminum and copper. Turquoise is used in many things. One of its main uses is in jewelry. It is used to make necklaces and bracelets. Turquoise is found in deeply weathered and altered rhyolitic volcanic rocks. Some myths about turquoise is that in ancient Mayan and Aztec times it was said that turquoise would please the Gods so when a person died and was buried the tribes would put pieces of turquoise around the gravestone.

I liked learning about turquoise and I learned a lot about it and I think now I will appreciate it more now that I know more about it.