gems, turquoise, Iran, Persia, Nishapur

Tietze describes the occurrence of turquoise near Nishapur in Persia, discussing the geographical and geological setting of the celebrated deposits and the manner in which the mineral occurs in the host rocks. He reviews information on the mines and their workings, the character and quality of the turquoise produced, and the geological conditions associated with its formation. The paper provides an important nineteenth-century geological account of the Nishapur deposits, one of the world’s oldest and most renowned sources of fine turquoise.