Turquoise is an intriguing color that has been prized for millennia. Known for its striking blue-green hue, turquoise occupies a unique place between blue and green on the color spectrum. But is turquoise actually closer to blue or green? Or is it an equal mix of both?
The classification of turquoise has been debated by artists, designers, scientists and gemologists alike. In this article, we’ll examine the complex composition of turquoise, its historical perception, and its categorization across various color models. By the end, you’ll have a definitive answer to the question: is turquoise blue-green or green-blue?
The Composition of Turquoise
To understand the essential color of turquoise, we first need to look at its chemical composition. Turquoise is a hydrated phosphate mineral containing copper and aluminum. The specific formula is CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O.
The copper ions in turquoise are the main contributors to its blue color. Meanwhile, the aluminum and phosphorus ions produce more green and yellow undertones. The exact ratio of these elements determines the balance of blue and green hues seen in a given turquoise sample.
Higher copper content produces a deeper sky blue color. Increased aluminum and phosphorus shift the shade toward light green or yellowish-green. Most turquoise used in jewelry and decor contains a fairly even mixture of blue and green pigments.
This complex combination of elements is why turquoise can appear slightly different depending on the viewing conditions. Under daylight, the blue component is accentuated. Under incandescent light, the green tones come through more strongly.
Perception of Turquoise Through History
The unique color of turquoise has been prized since ancient times. In Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia and the Americas, turquoise was an important gemstone used for jewelry and decorative objects.
The earliest known source of turquoise was located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Turquoise mining at this site dates back to at least the 6th millennium BCE. Ancient Egyptians called the vivid blue-green gems tefer, meaning “sky” in reference to their blue tones.
In ancient Persia, turquoise was the national gemstone. It was revered for its distinctive blue-green tones reminiscent of precious jade. The Persians referred to turquoise as pirouzeh, meaning “victory” in recognition of its auspicious hue.
Among indigenous cultures of North, Central and South America, turquoise was widely associated with the life-giving forces of water and sky. It was used extensively for spiritual rituals and adornment. Native Americans often referred to turquoise by names translating to “sky stone”.
Turquoise in Color Models
Modern color science provides some additional insights into the classification of turquoise. In the subtractive RGB and CMY color models, turquoise is created by combining green and blue primary colors.
In the additive RGB model, turquoise is made by mixing significant amounts of green and blue light. This is demonstrated in the RGB coordinates below:
| RGB Model | R Value | G Value | B Value |
| Turquoise | 64 | 224 | 208 |
The high green and blue values, with very little red, places turquoise closer to green-blue in this color system.
In the CMY model, turquoise consists of moderate cyan and yellow pigments, with very little magenta. Once again, green and blue components predominate:
| CMY Model | C Value | M Value | Y Value |
| Turquoise | 44 | 11 | 51 |
On the HSL cylindrical color model, turquoise is positioned between blue and green, with moderate saturation. Its hue angle is in the range of 170-180°, placing it much closer to green than pure blue at 240°.
Is Turquoise a Blue-Green or Green-Blue?
Given its complex composition and perception, turquoise cannot be labeled simply as either a blue or a green. However, the evidence suggests that it aligns somewhat closer to green.
In terms of chemical composition, the presence of aluminum and phosphorus ions contributes green and yellow undertones to balance out the blue copper ions.
Across many ancient cultures, turquoise was more often associated with attributes of green jade or connected to the earth and water rather than the sky.
And on color models like RGB and HSL, turquoise leans toward the greens side, with the blue component playing more of a secondary role.
For these reasons, while turquoise occupies a middle ground, it is slightly more accurate to classify it as a “green-blue” rather than a “blue-green”. The majority of its essential character comes from its green tones.
Unique Qualities of Turquoise
Regardless of whether turquoise is considered closer to green or blue, it remains an incredibly unique color. The brilliant balance of green and blue makes turquoise unlike any other single hue.
Its striking appearance captured human imagination for thousands of years. Turquoise continues to be treasured both for its natural beauty and its enduring aura of mystery.
Very few colors have remained so constantly in favor across countless cultures and millennia as turquoise. Its uniqueness lies in how it straddles the boundary between green and blue, borrowing attractive elements from both sides.
Turquoise’s permits everyone to see shades of their choosing within it. For some, the blues stand out more. For others, the greens dominate. This chameleon-like quality ensures turquoise never loses its intrigue.
So while we can discern turquoise leans slightly more green, its most defining feature remains the hypnotizing, equal blend of blue and green it displays. In this way, turquoise truly occupies a color category of its own.
Conclusion
Turquoise is cherished for its striking balance of blue and green tones. Upon closer inspection, turquoise appears to contain more essential green character from its chemical composition and cultural associations. However, its uniqueness stems from the nearly equal amounts of blue and green pigment.
In the end, turquoise is neither a pure blue nor a pure green. It exemplifies the beauty that can arise when two colors from opposite sides of the spectrum merge in perfect harmony. For this reason, turquoise remains one of the most prized and captivating gemstone colors known to humankind.
