Zodiac Signs

Taurus

Date of Birth ...... April 21 to May 21 Symbol ...... Bull Ruling Planet ...... Venus Element ...... Earth Favorable Days ...... Friday and Saturday Favorable Stones ...... Agate, Coral, Turquoise Favorable Colors ...... Blue, Orange and Pink Favorable Number ...... 4 Favorable Metal ...... Brass and Copper

Properties of the Lucky Stones for Taurus / Characteristics of Favorable Gemstones for Taurus / Attributes of Compatible Stones for the Taurus Sign / Traits of Taurus Birthstones

Turquoise

Common Name: Turquoise. Persian: *Piroza*. Arabic: *Firoozaj*. Hindi: *Firoza*. Nature: It is a green stone with a bluish tint that comes from Nishapur, Shiraz, Bhutan, and Kerman. The finest is the Nishapuri. Temperament: Cold in the first degree and dry in the third. The fine quality is formed in mines with slight amounts of sulfur and mercury. Color and Odor: The turquoise color is extremely famous. Taste: Tasteless, like other stones. Harmful Effects: Harmful for kidney diseases. Corrective: Tragacanth gum (*Katira*) and mucilaginous and moist substances. Substitute: Emerald is its substitute in most of its actions. Planetary Association: Associated with the planet Neptune based on temperament. Special Benefits: Strengthens the heart, brain, and eyesight; exhilarating, and an antidote to poison. Maximum Dosage: Up to two *mashas*, more or less as needed. Minimum Dosage: Up to one *masha*, slightly more. Actions and Properties: It is exhilarating with antidotal properties. Applying it as *surma* (collyrium) absorbs eye moisture, stops tearing, removes cataracts, strengthens eyesight, cures night blindness, and is beneficial for most diseases of the eye layers. With honey, it is useful for epilepsy and swelling of the spleen; it expels kidney and bladder stones. With appropriate medicines or electuaries, it strengthens the heart and stomach, and is useful for palpitations, dysentery, intestinal ulcers, and all internal wounds. Half a *dirham* is an antidote for all poisons, and one *dirham* repels the effects of severe poisons. One *masha* removes the effect of scorpion venom and is tested. Hanging it (wearing it) strengthens the heart, repels the fear of enemies, and hardens soft metals. In English, it is called Turquoise because it comes from the country of the Turks. It is also called Callaite, Agaphite, and Johnite. There are two main types of turquoise as follows: (1) Eastern Turquoise: Its color always remains stable, and it is extracted from old rocks. It is composed of 30.9 parts phosphoric acid, 44.5 parts alumina, 3.75 parts copper oxide, 1.8 parts iron oxide, and 19 parts water. (2) Western Turquoise: This is also called bone (odontolite). Its color deteriorates and turns green, and it is considered a product of newer rocks. A major component in it is bone, i.e., calcium phosphate. Therefore, it is composed of 80 parts calcium phosphate, 8 parts calcium carbonate, 2 parts iron phosphate and magnesium phosphate, 1.5 parts alumina, and 1 to 6 parts water. This type is found in Simore and Lower Languedoc (a province in France at 43 degrees North-East). Persian scholars describe its following types: (1) *Fathi*. (2) *Azhari*. (3) *Sulaimani*. (4) *Draldi*. (5) *Aasman Goon* (Sky-colored). (6) *Abdul Hamidi*. (7) *Andeshi*. (8) *Ganjvina*. The first five types are khaki (dust) colored. The remaining three are found in the mountains and valleys. The pieces found in Kerman and Shiraz have a white color mixed in them, and they are called *Sabangi* and *Sarboom*. Those having a blue stripe are called *Neelboom*.