Turquoise vs Howlite
Turquoise and Howlite are easy to confuse. Here’s how they stack up on the properties that actually separate them.
| Turquoise | Howlite | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Blue, Green | White, Clear |
| Mohs hardness | 5–6 | 3.5 |
| Lustre | Waxy to subvitreous | Subvitreous, glimmering |
| Streak | Bluish white | white |
| Crystal system | Triclinic | Monoclinic |
| Transparency | Opaque | Translucent |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {001}, good on {010}, but cleavage rarely seen | None |
| Fracture | Conchoidal | Conchoidal, uneven |
| Chemical formula | — | Ca 2 B 5 SiO 9 (OH) 5 |
| Specific gravity | 2.6–2.9 | 2.53 – 2.59 |
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Frequently asked questions
What's the easiest way to tell Turquoise from Howlite?
Hardness is the quickest test: Turquoise is Mohs 5–6 and Howlite is Mohs 3.5.