Tsunamis: Natural Hazards
In December 2004, when a tsunami killed more than 200,000 people in 11 countries around the Indian Ocean, the United States was reminded of its own tsunami risks. In fact, devastating tsunamis have struck North America before and are sure to strike again. Especially vulnerable are the five Pacific States -- Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California -- and the U.S. Caribbean islands. In the wake of the Indian Ocean disaster, the United States is redoubling its efforts to assess the Nation's tsunami hazards, provide tsunami education, and improve its system for tsunami warning. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is helping to meet these needs, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and with coastal States and counties. Tsunami Definition An ocean wave produced by a sub-marine earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption. These waves may reach enormous dimensions and have sufficient energy to travel across entire oceans.	The December 26, 2004 tsunami strikes Male (image by Sofwathulla Mohamed) U.S. Tsunami Map This map shows seven earthquake-generated tsunami events in the United States from the years 900 to 1964. The earthquakes that caused these tsunamis are: Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1964, magnitude 9.2; Chile, 1960, magnitude 9.5; Alaska, 1946, magnitude 7.3; Puerto Rico/Mona Rift, 1918, magnitude 7.3 to 7.5; Virgin Islands, 1867, magnitude undetermined; Cascadia, 1700, magnitude 9; and Puget Sound, 900, magnitude 7.5. Map not to scale. Sources: National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, USGS Download images Low-Resolution High-Resolution
Data Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Wisconsin State Song

"On, Wisconsin" Official State Song "On, Wisconsin" Lyrics: Charles D. Rosa and J. S. Hubbard Music: William T. Purdy Adoption: 1959 Official State Ballad "Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams" Lyrics: Erma Howland Barrett Music: Shari Sarazin Adoption: 2001 Official State Waltz "The Wisconsin Waltz" Lyrics: Eddie Hansen Music: Eddie Hansen Adoption: 2001 History "On, Wisconsin" is a football fight song composed by William Purdy in 1909 and dedicated to the University of Wisconsin football team. Carl Beck co-wrote lyrics for the song with Purdy, and the rhythmic and rousing ditty became very popular among students. In 1913, Judge Charles Rosa and Mr. Hubbard were inspired to write new, more earnest lyrics. This made the song even more popular, but it was still not officially recognized as the state song until 1959. In 1993 Shari Sarazin set a sweet melody to a ballad written by her grandmother Erma Howland Barrett, and the resulting song, "Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams," became Wisconsin's official state ballad in 2001. In addition to these two songs, the state also adopted an official waltz in the same year, "The Wisconsin Waltz," by Waupaca native Eddie Hansen. Lyrics "On, Wisconsin" On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Grand old Badger State! We, your loyal sons and daughters, Hail thee, good and great. On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin! Champion of the right, "Forward", our motto, God will give thee might! "Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams" Oh Wisconsin, land of beauty, with your hillsides and your plains, with your jackpine and your birch tree, and your oak of mighty frame. Land of rivers, lakes and valleys, land of warmth and winter snows, land of birds and beasts and humanity, oh Wisconsin, I love you so. Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. Oh Wisconsin, you're all I'll ever need. A little heaven here on earth could you be? Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. In the summer, golden grain fields; in the winter, drift of white snow; in the springtime, robins singing; in the autumn, flaming colors show. Oh I wonder who could wander, or who could want to drift for long, away from all your beauty, all your sunshine, all your sweet song? Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. Oh Wisconsin, you're all I'll ever need. A little heaven here on earth could you be? Oh Wisconsin, land of my dreams. And when it's time, let my spirit run free in Wisconsin, land of my dreams. "The Wisconsin Waltz" Music from heaven throughout the years; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz Favorite song of the pioneers; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. Song of my heart on that last final day, When it is time to lay me away. One thing I ask is to let them play The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. My sweetheart, my complete heart, It’s for you when we dance together; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. I remember that September, Before love turned into an ember, We danced to the Wisconsin Waltz. Summer ended, we intended that our lives then would both be blended, But somehow our planning got lost. Memory now sings a dream song, a faded love theme song; The beautiful Wisconsin Waltz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MZyeh7n5D0

The Wisconsin Quarter
The Wisconsin quarter is the fifth of 2004 and the 30th in the 50 State Quarters® Program. On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state to be admitted into the Union. The Wisconsin design depicts an agricultural theme featuring a cow, a round of cheese, and an ear of corn. The design also bears an inscription of the state motto, "Forward."Agricultural Wealth Wisconsin adopted the State motto, "Forward," in 1851, reflecting Wisconsin's continuous drive to be a national leader. Wisconsin is considered "America's Dairy Land" with production of over 15 percent of the nation's milk. Wisconsin also produces over 350 different varieties, types, and styles of award-winning cheeses—more than any other state. There are approximately 17,000 dairy farms, with just over one million cows that produce an average of 17,306 gallons of milk each, per year.Wisconsin is also a major corn-growing state. In 2002, Wisconsin led the nation in corn silage production and, with 391.5 million bushels produced, it ranked fifth in the production of corn for grain (shelled corn). State corn production contributed $882.4 million to the Wisconsin economy in 2003. Wisconsin is also a leading supplier of mint.Choosing the Design In December 2001, Governor Scott McCallum appointed 23 people to the Wisconsin Commemorative Quarter Council to review and recommend candidate design themes. The state received over 9,600 suggestions, and the council narrowed the concepts down to six. After a statewide vote, Governor McCallum submitted three design concepts to the United States Mint: "Scenic Wisconsin, " "Agriculture/Dairy/Barns," and "Early Exploration and Cultural Interaction." In 2003, Governor Jim Doyle coordinated a statewide vote to select the final design, in which the "Agriculture/Dairy/Barns" design was the popular choice. This design was approved by the Secretary of the Treasury on October 9, 2003. The 50 State Quarter ProgramSigned into law in 1997, the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act has become the most successful numismatic program in American history, with roughly half of the U.S. population collecting the coins, either in a casual manner or as a serious pursuit. The program produces five different reverse designs each year for ten years—each representing a different state—the order of which is determined by the order states were admitted to the Union. Design concepts are submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury by state governors for final approval. The obverse of each quarter is a slight redesign of the quarter's previous design. The cost to manufacture a quarter is about 5 cents, providing a profit of approximately 20 cents per coin. So far, the federal government has made a profit of $4.6 billion from collectors taking the coins out of circulation. In 2009, the U.S. Mint launched a separate program issuing quarters commemorating the District of Columbia and various U.S. territories.
	Download a Hi-Res Image: Proof Image Uncirculated Image
	PROFILE
	Release Date:	October 25, 2004
	Design:	Head of a cow Wheel of cheese Ear of corn
	Captions:	"Forward"
	Designer:	Alfred Maletsky
	Engraver:	Alfred Maletsky
	Mintage:	Denver Mint - 226,800,000 Philadelphia Mint - 226,400,000 Total - 453,200,000
	SPECIFICATIONS
	Denomination:	Quarter Dollar
	Composition:	Copper Nickel alloy 91.67% Cu 8.33% Ni
	Weight:	2.000 oz (5.670 g)
	Diameter:	0.955 in (24.26 mm)
	Thickness:	0.07 in (1.75 mm)
	Edge:	Reeded
	No. of Reeds:	119
	Data Source: The U.S. Mint.

Wisconsin State Gemstone
Agate Status Official Description Agate is a layered, multicolored variety of chalcedony. Chalcedony is a catch-all term that includes gemstones with microscopic crystal quartz structures, many also containing the mineral Mogánite. When these gemstones are concentrically banded, they are called fortification agates. Because agates occur in an infinite number of colors and patterns, no two are alike. Agate is composed of silicon and oxygen, with iron and aluminum oxides sometimes present. Agate forms in rounded nodules or veins. Often, centuries of water have washed the outer surface away to reveal the pattern inside. When this is not the case, the crust must be cut open to view the stone’s inner beauty. Tiny quartz crystals called drusy often form inside the stone, especially in agates with hollow cavities. Since unpolished specimens of agate are dull, they are normally polished to bring out their full beauty. Agate has hundreds of variety names, and new ones are introduced every year. Some of the more common varieties are fire, blue, blue lace, Mexican crazy-lace, Greek, Botswana, banded, carnelian, Lake Superior, thunder egg, rainbow, and turritella agates. State Symbol Although Wisconsin does not have an official gemstone, agate tells a great deal about the state’s geology. A billion years ago, a 1,243-mile (2,000-km) rift formed in the middle of what is now the United States. It continued to deepen and widen for perhaps 20 million years. When it stopped, lava poured out, creating vast basaltic deposits and leaving the long basin that is now Lake Superior. Some components of the molten basalt escaped as gas, leaving pockets. Over millennia, agates formed in these pockets. Today, beachcombers on Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shoreline often find these souvenirs of Midwestern geological formation. Agate was also designated the state gemstone of Louisiana in 1976. Name Origin The name of this mineral comes from the site where it was originally reported, the Achates River, or Αχάτης in Greek, which is now known as the Dirillo River in Sicily, Italy. The Greek naturalist and philosopher Theophrastus discovered agates sometime between the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. Agates were widely used in the ancient world. Formation and Occurrence Agates are normally associated with volcanic lava rocks, and are also found in some metamorphic rocks. Silica-rich water percolates through the rock, escaping as gas and depositing traces of the silica in the rock’s crevices. Layers are formed and eventually the rounded nodules called agates result. Geographic Distribution Agates are widespread, occurring in most areas of the world. In addition to the site where the mineral was first reported in Sicily, major agate locations include Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, the United States, and additional regions of Italy. The important gem region of Idar-Oberstein, in the Hunsrück Mountains in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, got its start as a source for agate thousands of years ago. Uses Because of its abundance, durability, and beauty, chalcedony was one of the earliest raw materials used by humans. The earliest recorded use was for projectile points, knives, tools, and containers such as cups and bowls. Early humans made weapons and tools from many varieties of chalcedony including agate, agatized coral, jasper, and petrified wood. Agate, along with petrified wood, was then elevated from functional use as tools, vessels, and weapons to gem status, being used for decorative and religious purposes. From antiquity through the Renaissance period, collecting bowls made of agate was a popular hobby, especially among royalty. In fact, this hobby is what led to the growth of the gemstone industry in the Idar-Oberstein district of Germany, one of the world’s leading centers for gemstone cutting and trading. The town is still known for some of the world’s finest agate carving. Today, agate is chiefly made into stones and used for ornamental purposes, such as in brooches and pins, pendants and charms, beads, mosaics, and dream catchers. Agate is one of the most varied and most popular gemstones. It also has industrial applications, including letter openers, inkstands, mortars, and pestles. Agate has been believed for centuries to protect the wearer or holder of the stone from a wide variety of dangers and to bring good fortune. Because it has been known and used by humans for millennia, the supposed benefits of agate are innumerable and cross into many cultures. Birthstone Agate is the mystical birthstone for September and the birthstone for the zodiac sign of Gemini. Agate is given for the 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries.	Agate Cabochon Orange Agate Polished Agate Agate Necklace AGATE FACTS Group: Quartz Chemical Formula: SiO2 Crystal Structure: Trigonal Hardness (Mohs): 7; lower in impure varieties Color: clear (in pure form) Transparency: Transparent Luster: Vitreous Birefringence: +0.009 (B-G interval) Pleochroism: None Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553 - Dr +0.009 (B-G interval) Density: 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties Streak: White Cleavage: None Fracture: Conchoidal
	Some data courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America Author: World Trade Press

Wisconsin State Stone
Red Granite Status Official Description Granite is a hard, crystalline, plutonic igneous or metamorphic rock. It varies in composition depending on the parent rock that melts or partially melts to form it; the dominant components are quartz and feldspar, which form the lighter-colored parts of the rock. The darker parts may be biotite, hornblende, muscovite, pyroxene, or other minerals. Granite’s medium-to-large crystal size gives it a granular appearance, thus its name, from the Latin granum. Granite is most often predominantly white, gray, pink, or red. Green and brown granites also occur. Wisconsin’s granite comes in a variety of colors, one of which is described as mahogany or ruby red as seen from a distance. At close range, purple and dark gray flecks are visible. A State Symbol Red granite’s importance to the geology, history, economy, and architecture of Wisconsin motivated its selection as Wisconsin’s state rock in 1971. The impetus to designate a state rock came from the Kenosha Gem and Mineral Society, whose wish was to foster greater awareness of geography among the state’s citizens. Granite was produced in Wisconsin beginning in the 1850s in Amberg, Berlin, Montello, Utley, Marquette, Redgranite, Waupaca, and Wausau Counties. The red granite was first quarried in the 1890s by William Bannerman, a Scottish immigrant. The town of Redgranite sprang up around one of his quarries. The main use of the red granite was as paving blocks for large cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee, where the then-prevalent brick or cedar paving blocks could not stand up to the amount of traffic. The granite was quarried in winter and carried 11 miles by horse-drawn sleighs to the railroad stockyard in the town of Berlin pending sale. This arrangement worked out well for the farmers, giving them work between growing seasons. Formation Granite is plutonic, meaning that it forms underground, and is at least sometimes igneous, or formed from magma. The underground origin allows slow cooling of the magma or parent rock and accounts for the medium to large crystal size characteristic of the rock. Geologists have searched for means to explain how so much granite rises from the Earth’s lower crust where it originates into the upper crust. Tectonic uplift and surface erosion may lead to granite’s exposure at the surface; however, these forces are not sufficient to account for the emplacement of most granite. Major theories presume that granite moves upward through surface rocks while it is still relatively hot, either pushing the other rocks aside or filling gaps at fault lines. Another disputed question is whether the majority of granite is actually metamorphic (silicified from softer rock). The prevailing theory remains that granite is primarily igneous. Geographic Distribution Wisconsin’s granite, widespread in the state, belongs to the Canadian Shield (also known as the Laurentian Plateau), the ancient nucleus of the North American continent. More than half a billion years old, this great body of crystalline Precambrian rock underlies all of Quebec, large extents of other Canadian territories, and part of Wisconsin. Much of the shield is now exposed. Uses Granite is one of the most favored stones for building construction because of its load-bearing capacity and resistance to weathering. It is also favored for other applications where toughness is essential, such as for breakwaters and riprap (shoreline protection). Granite aggregate is used for railroad ballast and as chip seal for road surfaces. Production Two quarries in Marathon County continue to produce granite for dimension stone; production in 2005 was 2,550 tons with a value of $1.7 million. Five Wisconsin quarries produced 2.6 million tons of granite aggregate worth $15 million. Famous Examples Wisconsin red granite can be seen in many of the state’s buildings and monuments and has also been used for special applications elsewhere. The tomb of Ulysses S. Grant, in New York City, is made of Wisconsin red granite. Red Granite Falls, actually a series of rapids, is an excellent place to see Wisconsin’s red granite in its natural environment. Probably the most famous granite outcrops in the nation are the towering formations of Yosemite National Park. Hyderabad, India, and Aberdeen, Scotland, are two cities that are famous for using great quantities of locally quarried granite in their buildings. Aberdeen is nicknamed "the Granite City."	Red Granite Polished Red Granite Ornamental Red Granite Grant's Tomb, in New York City, Is Made of Wisconsin Red Granite GRANITE FACTS Name: Granite Chemical Formula: SiO2 Color: White, gray, pink or red
	Author: World Trade Press

Wisconsin State Day, Motto, and Nickname

State Day Wisconsin Day (observed each Wednesday of the third full week in September) Status Official Date of Admission to United States May 29, 1848 Ranking in State Admission 30th Former Designation Northwest Territory Indiana Territory Illinois Territory Michigan Territory Wisconsin Territory History The area that is now the state of Wisconsin at one time or another in history was part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory, Illinois Territory, and Michigan Territory. As a part of the Michigan Territory, many disputes over boundaries, territorial divisions, and political actions arose that added confusion to the issue of forming a separate Wisconsin Territory, and delayed such prospects from occurring. On July 3, 1836, the organized incorporated Territory of Wisconsin was formed. For the next 12 years the territory flourished and began fulfilling the requirements for statehood. A state capitol was built in Madison, and the final political requirements were completed by March of 1848 with the adoption of a constitution. Finally, on May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the Union. Motto "Forward" "Forward" was adopted as the official state motto in 1851. This motto reflects the state’s ambitious drive to lead the way. Nicknames "America’s Dairyland," "America’s Bread Basket," "The Badger State" Wisconsin is a national leader in dairy production and has earned the nickname "America’s Dairyland." The fertile soils and natural resources of Wisconsin make it one of the leaders in the nation’s food production industry. The nickname "America’s Bread Basket" refers to this wealth. The badger was adopted as the official state animal in 1957 and now appears on the state coat of arms, state seal, and state flag. The nickname "Badger State" refers not only to the animal’s official status, but also to its use as a college mascot. -World Trade Press

Nevada State Gemstones
Black Fire Opal Status Official precious gemstone Description Opal is not a true mineral in the accepted sense of the word because it does not have a crystal structure. Considered a mineraloid gel, opal is a hydrated silicon dioxide. The stone's base color can be white, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green, gray, brown, black, or colorless. White and shades of green are the most common, while red against a black background is the rarest. Certain specimens display exceptional variations in color or iridescent flashes of color when turned or viewed from different directions. This phenomenon is called "play of color." Opal has over one hundred variety and trade names, but the list of accepted or commonly used names is much shorter. The most important and most widely known opal is the precious opal, whose play of color phenomenon makes it valuable. Fine specimens of precious opal with intense play of color can be worth more than diamond. The density and pattern of the silica spheres that compose precious opals are arranged in such a way that when light is diffracted through the stone, it causes a color sheen. Precious opal may be subdivided further by color modifiers that describe the body color, such as white, black, pink, and blue. Opals not exhibiting play of color are called common opals, and are much less valuable. This milky appearance of a common opal is called opalescence. Opal is brittle, heat sensitive, and breaks and scratches easily. It can develop internal and external cracks if it is dried too quickly or exposed to heat over a long period of time. The stone is three to 30 percent water, and some varieties self-destruct through the loss of water. Despite these drawbacks, opal's unsurpassed beauty guarantees its status as a premier gemstone. State Symbol Black fire opal was adopted as the official precious gemstone of Nevada in 1987. In 1917, Nevada's Rainbow Ridge Mine produced the Roebling Opal, weighing 2,265 carats. The stone was donated to the Smithsonian and is displayed in the National Gem Collection. The world's largest opal, weighing 7 pounds (3.18 kg), was also found at the Rainbow Ridge Mine. Another Nevada gem in the Smithsonian collection is a 169-carat black opal from the Royal Peacock opal mine. Both of these mines are located in the Virgin Valley in northwest Nevada, the only U.S. state to produce black fire opal in significant quantities. Name Origin Reportedly, opal's name evolved from the Roman word opalus from the Greek word opallios, meaning, "to see a change of color." The Greek word was a modification of the ancient Sanskrit name for opal, upala, which means, "precious stone." Formation and Occurrence Opal is deposited at relatively low temperatures and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock. It is most commonly found with limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl, and basalt. Famous Examples Some 90 to 95 percent of the world's opal comes from the Australian outback, and this part of the world has produced some stunning specimens. The Olympic Australis opal is reported to be the largest and most valuable uncut gem opal ever found. It weighs 17,000 carats and was found in 1956 at the famous Eight Mile opal field in Coober Pedy, South Australia. The Aurora Australis Opal was found at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia, in 1938. At 180 carats, it is considered to be the world's most valuable black opal. Because of its abundant deposits of white and black precious opal, Australia designated opal its national gemstone. Geographic Distribution of Opal Algeria Antarctica Argentina Australia Austria Bolivia Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Cuba Czech Republic DR Congo Denmark Ecuador Egypt Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Germany Greece Greenland Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Israel Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Madagascar Malaysia Mali Mars Mexico Morocco Namibia New Zealand Norway Oman Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Poland Portugal Reunion Island Romania Russia Saudi Arabia Slovakia Somaliland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Tanzania Thailand Turkey United Kingdom Ukraine United States Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans Uses Opal has centuries of history as a treasured gemstone. Historically, beliefs associated with the wearing of opal have varied. Early Greeks thought that opals gave their owners the powers of foresight and prophecy, and Romans adored it as a token of hope and purity. Eastern people regarded it as sacred, and Arabs believed it fell from heaven. Australian aboriginal legend says that opals were born at the spot where the creator came to earth on a rainbow in order to bring peace to humans. In the Middle Ages, opal was thought to possess all the characteristics of all the gemstones represented by the many colors of opals, and therefore to provide great luck. In the 19th century, superstitions grew about the bad luck or fate that could befall one for wearing opal if it were not the wearer's birthstone. Today, these superstitions have diminished, but some people still believe it is bad luck to wear opals. Opal reached a height of popularity in the Art Deco period. Precious opal is the primary gem form of this stone, but gems are cut from common opal as well. Opal is most commonly cut into cabochons and used in all types of jewelry. The most desired variety of opal is the black opal, which has a dark green, dark blue, or black background. Also important is white opal with its white-, yellow-, or cream-colored background. Mexican fire opal is yellow-orange to red, transparent to translucent, and opalescent. When Mexican fire opal displays play of color, it is called precious fire opal. Fire opal is the second most important opal commercially. Opal is thought to have healing powers, including relieving depression and improving eyesight. It is also said to help one find inner beauty and true love. Birthstone Opal is considered the birthstone for people born in October or under the zodiac signs of Libra and Aquarius. It is the mystical birthstone for April and the gemstone for the 14th and 18th years of marriage. Substitutes / Synthetics Following the discovery of the ordered sphere structure of precious opal, a synthetic opal trade began. Imitation opal can be distinguished from genuine opal as it does not fluoresce under UV light, is more porous, and has regular patches of color. Some imitation opals are made of glass or plastic.	Black Fire Opal Close-up of Black Fire Opal BLACK FIRE OPAL FACTS Group: Silicate Chemical Formula:SiO2·nH2O Crystal Structure: Irregular veins, in masses, in nodules Hardness (Mohs): 5.5-6.5 Color: White, black, red, orange, most of the full spectrum, colorless, iridescent Transparency: Transparent, opaque Luster: Vitreous, waxy, greasy, dull Birefringence: None Pleochroism: None Refractive Index: 1.450 (+.020, -.080) Mexican opal may read as low as 1.37, but typically reads 1.42-1.43 Density: 2.15 (+.08, -.90) Streak: White Cleavage: None Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
	Data Source:

Turquoise Status Offical semiprecious gemstone Description Turquoise is an opaque mineral, a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum. It is also formed by the percolating action of meteoric waters, usually in arid regions or deserts, on aluminous igneous or sedimentary rocks. Turquoise comes in various shades of blue, blue-green, green-blue, green, yellow-green, and yellow. The material can be solid colored or spider-webbed in any of these different colors or shades. The quality varies from hard, solid material that takes a good polish, to soft porous material that can only be used as feed stock for treatment, enhancement, or stabilization processes. State Symbol Nevada has been a major producer of turquoise since the 1930s, and until the early 1980s, was the largest producer in the United States. It is estimated that over the years, 75 to 100 different mines in the state produced sizable quantities of turquoise. Production varied from a few thousand dollars worth of material at some of the properties to more than a million dollars at others. To date, total production of rough turquoise is estimated to be in the range of $40 to $50 million. Nevada designated turquoise its official state semiprecious gemstone on May 27, 1987. Name Origin The name turquoise is antiquated French for "Turkish," because at one time, turquoise came to France from Turkey. The stone was apparently also referred to as "turquin," another old term meaning "Turk." However, the turquoise in question most likely originated in Alimersai Mountain in Persia (now Iran) or the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, two of the world's oldest known turquoise mining areas. The unique color of the stone has led to its use to describe anything similarly colored. Geographic Distribution of Turquoise Turquoise was one of the first minerals to be mined, and continues to be mined mostly by hand. Egyptians mined and used turquoise from the Sinai Peninsula about 3,000 years ago, and six mines remain in the region. An area near Neyshabur, Iran, has been mined for over 2,000 years and continues to supply some of the world's finest turquoise. For thousands of years, the finest intense blue turquoise in the world was found in Persia, and the term "Persian turquoise" became synonymous with the finest quality. This changed during the late 1800s and early 1900s when modern miners discovered or rediscovered significant deposits of high-quality turquoise in the western and southwestern United States. Material from many of these deposits was just as fine as the finest Persian turquoise. Today, Persian turquoise more often describes the stone's quality than its origin, and the majority of the world's finest-quality turquoise comes from the United States, the largest producer of turquoise. Until the 1920s, New Mexico was the United States' largest producer of turquoise. Currently, with the exception of byproduct material from copper mines, production of turquoise from deposits in New Mexico, for all practical purposes, has stopped. Turquoise still can be found in New Mexico, but Arizona and Nevada have surpassed it in terms of both annual and total production. Uses Turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones known. Pharoahs, Aztec kings, and the people of Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley civilization adorned themselves with turquoise jewelry. Since about 200 BCE, turquoise has been extensively used by both southwestern U.S. Native Americans and by many indigenous tribes in Mexico. The popular Native American jewelry with turquoise mounted in silver is relatively new. Some believe this style of jewelry was unknown prior to about 1880, when a white trader persuaded a Navajo craftsman to make turquoise and silver jewelry using coin silver. Prior to this time, Native Americans made solid turquoise beads, carvings, and inlaid mosaics. China and Tibet are minor sources of the mineral. Sacred to Tibetans, turquoise is often used by shamans in rituals and ceremonies. It is believed to promote mental and spiritual clarity and expansion, as well as enhance wisdom, kindness, trust, and understanding. Birthstone Turquoise is the astrological birthstone for Taurus and Sagittarius, the planetary stone for Aquarius, and one of four modern birthstones for December. It is also the Russian and Polish birthstone for December, and the fifth and 11th wedding anniversary stone. It is one of the most valuable nontransparent minerals used in jewelry. Substitutes / Synthetics Egyptians were the first to produce artificial turquoise, which was used in glazed earthenware. The most common imitation of turquoise encountered today is dyed howlite and magnesite, both white in their natural states. Howlite also has the natural (and convincing) advantage of black veining similar to that of turquoise. Dyed chalcedony, jasper, and marble are less common, and much less convincing. Two other gem materials that can resemble certain colors and shades of turquoise but are separate mineral species are variscite and faustite. Both have been mistaken for and marketed as turquoise. Attractive gemstones can be cut from both variscite and faustite, and therefore would be noteworthy as gem materials on their own.	Turquoise Stone Meticulous Turquoise Medallion Raw Sample of Turquoise TURQUOISE FACTS Group: Turquoise Chemical Formula: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)(H2O) Crystal Structure: Triclinic Hardness (Mohs): 5-6 Color: Bright blue, sky-blue, pale green, blue-green, turquoise-blue, apple-green, green-gray Transparency: Transparent, translucent, opaque Luster: Vitreous, waxy, dull Birefringence: +0.040 Pleochroism: Weak Refractive Index: ná = 1.610 nâ = 1.615 nã = 1.650 Density: 2.6-2.8 g/cm3 Streak: Pale greenish blue to white Cleavage: Perfect on {001}, good on {010} Fracture: Conchoidal
	Some data courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America Author: World Trade Press