Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s6.t6: Turquoise

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It derives its name from the country of Turkey. However the supply originated from Persia, and merely passed through Turkey towards Europe. Turquoise takes on a greenish tinge on exposure to sunlight and for this reason most ancient ornaments of this mineral are definitely greenish in tint. The finest turquoise is found in Persia, where the mines are known to have been worked for at least eight centuries. The principal locality is near Nishapur in the Khorasan provinces, other localities being near Kirman and Karik and near Mashiz. It is also said to occur in Turkestan. As there is no reference of its finding from India, so it is not plausible to accept that turquoise came from Ajmer hills of Rajputana. It seems most probably that the ultimate source of the Mohenjo-Daro turquoise was the Persian province of Khorasan. (MS-II, 678)