Editing Turquoise (section)

=== Sinai ===
Since at least the [[First Dynasty of Egypt|First Dynasty]] (3000&nbsp;[[Common Era|BCE]]) in [[ancient Egypt]], and possibly before then, turquoise was used by the [[Egyptians]] and was [[mining|mined]] by them in the [[Sinai Peninsula]]. This region was known as the ''Country of Turquoise'' by the native [[Monitu]]. There are six mines in the peninsula, all on its southwest coast, covering an area of some {{convert|650|km2|abbr=on}}. The two most important of these mines, from a historical perspective, are [[Serabit el-Khadim]] and [[Wadi Maghareh]], believed to be among the oldest of known mines. The former mine is situated about 4 kilometres from an ancient temple dedicated to the deity [[Hathor]].

The turquoise is found in [[sandstone]] that is, or was originally, overlain by [[basalt]]. Copper and iron workings are present in the area. Large-scale turquoise mining is not profitable today, but the deposits are sporadically quarried by [[Bedouin]] peoples using homemade [[gunpowder]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2014}} In the rainy winter months, miners face a risk from [[flash flooding]]; even in the dry season, death from the collapse of the haphazardly exploited sandstone mine walls may occur. The colour of Sinai material is typically greener than that of Iranian material but is thought to be stable and fairly durable. Often referred to as "Egyptian turquoise", Sinai material is typically the most translucent, and under magnification, its surface structure is revealed to be peppered with dark blue discs not seen in material from other localities.

[[File:Chacoan turquoise with argillite.jpg|right|thumb|A selection of [[Ancestral Puebloans|Ancestral Pueblo]] (Anasazi) turquoise and orange [[argillite]] inlay pieces from [[Chaco Canyon]], [[New Mexico]], US (dated {{circa}} 1020–1140) show the typical colour range and mottling of American turquoise. Some likely came from [[Los Cerrillos, New Mexico|Los Cerrillos]].]]