Turquoise

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl₆(PO
4)₄(OH)₈·4H
2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In recent times, turquoise, like most other opaque gems, has been devalued by the introduction of treatments, imitations, and synthetics onto the market.

The substance has been known by many names, but the word turquoise, which dates to the 17th century, is derived from the French turques for "Turks", because the mineral was first brought to Europe from Turkey, from mines in the historical Khorasan Province of Persia.Pliny the Elder referred to the mineral as callais and the Aztecs knew it as chalchihuitl.

Properties of turquoise

The finest of turquoise reaches a maximum hardness of just under 6, or slightly more than window glass. Characteristically a cryptocrystalline mineral, turquoise almost never forms single crystals and all of its properties are highly variable. Its crystal system is proven to be triclinic via X-ray diffraction testing. With lower hardness comes lower specific gravity (2.60–2.90) and greater porosity: These properties are dependent on grain size. The lustre of turquoise is typically waxy to subvitreous, and transparency is usually opaque, but may be semitranslucent in thin sections. Colour is as variable as the mineral's other properties, ranging from white to a powder blue to a sky blue, and from a blue-green to a yellowish green. The blue is attributed to idiochromatic copper while the green may be the result of either iron impurities (replacing aluminium) or dehydration.

Turquoise (disambiguation)

Turquoise is a gemstone.

Turquoise may also refer to:

Turquoise (song)

"Turquoise" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Donovan. The "Turquoise" single was released in the United Kingdom on October 30, 1965 through Pye Records (Pye 7N 15984) and charted, peaking at No.30. The "Turquoise" single was backed with "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" and only released in the United Kingdom. "Turquoise" was released as the b-side on "To Try for the Sun" in the United States. Interesting use of vibes in that song, played by

"Turquoise" marked a significant drop-off in Donovan's UK chart success compared to the top 10 successes of "Catch the Wind" and "Colours" and the "Universal Soldier" EP. While "Catch the Wind" and "Colours" have appeared in various formats throughout Donovan's catalogue, live versions and re-recordings of "Turquoise" are conspicuously absent.

The relative lack of success in the United Kingdom was most likely the reason leading to Hickory Records selecting "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond" as Donovan's next single in the United States. Hickory Records later released "Turquoise" as the b-side to "To Try for the Sun" and made it the opening track to their 1966 compilation The Real Donovan. The 45 was one of the records in John Lennon's jukebox.

Smokey

Smokey may refer to:

People with the name

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Smokey (album)

Smokey is the first solo album by Motown legend Smokey Robinson after his departure from The Miracles. It was released on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label (T328L) in 1973, and featured the single "Sweet Harmony" which was his tribute to his former singing partners in the Miracles: Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore and Ronnie White. The album was arranged by Dave Blumberg, Gene Page and Willie Hutch. It also featured the song "Baby Come Close", his first solo hit single, and the single "Just My Soul Responding", a protest song dealing with ghetto life in America, and the plight of the American Indian.

All things equal, Smokey was his entry to place him on creative and commercial footing with labelmates, Marvin Gaye with his landmark 1971, What's Going On, Stevie Wonder and Talking Book and Diana Ross and her self-titled debut. However, performing his Vice-President duties at Motown, meant that his time would come a bit later. Producing the #7, "Baby Come Close", "Smokey" shimmers with brilliance on the medley of "Never My Love"/"Never Can Say Goodbye" and songs like the plaintive "Holly". But a couple of years later, he would get his well deserved moment.

Smokey (mascot)

Smokey is the mascot of the University of Tennessee sports teams. These teams, named "The Volunteers" and nicknamed "the Vols", use both a live and a costumed version of Smokey.

There is an actual Bluetick Coonhound mascot, Smokey X, who leads the Vols on the field for football games. The Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity cares for the hound on the University of Tennessee campus. There is also a costumed mascot that appears at every Vols game and has won several mascot championships. The costumed Smokey has a female counterpart that appears at the women's athletic events.

Smokey was selected as the mascot for Tennessee after a student poll in 1953. A contest was held by the Pep Club that year. Their desire was to select a coon hound that was native to Tennessee. At halftime of the Mississippi State game that season, several hounds were introduced for voting. "Blue Smokey", owned by a Rev. Bill Brooks was the last, and howled loudly when introduced. The students cheered and Smokey became the mascot. The most successful of the live dogs was Smokey VIII, who saw a record of 91-22, two SEC titles and one National Championship.

BSC

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