blue green gem crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're tackling a puzzle and came across the clue "blue green gem," you're in the right place. We provide the most accurate and common answers, along with helpful explanations to boost your crossword-solving skills.
Solutions for "blue green gem crossword clue" by Letter Count
9 Letters
TURQUOISE: A blue-to-green mineral, often used as a gemstone and ornamental stone, known for its distinctive color.
More About "blue green gem crossword clue"
The clue "blue green gem" is a classic in the world of crosswords, almost always pointing to one particular and highly recognizable gemstone: TURQUOISE. This gem has been prized for millennia, not just for its striking color but also for its cultural significance across various civilizations.
Turquoise owes its unique hue to the presence of copper in its composition, which contributes to the blue tones, and iron, which can lean it more towards green. Its versatility in color makes it an excellent fit for the "blue green gem" descriptor, encompassing a spectrum from clear sky blue to a vibrant apple green. Understanding this specific association is a key piece of crossword knowledge that can help you solve many similar clues.
While other gems might occasionally exhibit blue-green shades (like certain types of jade or amazonite), turquoise remains the go-to answer due to its iconic status and consistent coloration that perfectly matches the clue's description. Knowing common gem types and their characteristic colors is a common pattern in crossword puzzles.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Think of the Most Obvious Fit: For color-specific gem clues like "blue green gem," often the most famous or archetypal example of that color is the intended answer. Turquoise is the quintessential blue-green gem.
- Consider Letter Count Early: If you have intersecting words that give you a few letters, quickly check if a common answer like TURQUOISE (9 letters) fits the pattern. This can confirm your suspicions quickly.
- Broaden Your Gemstone Vocabulary: Familiarize yourself with a range of popular gemstones and their typical colors (e.g., Ruby for red, Emerald for green, Sapphire for blue, Amethyst for purple). This knowledge base is invaluable for many crossword clues.
- Look for Cultural Context: Sometimes, gem clues might hint at their origin or historical use (e.g., "Ancient Egyptian blue-green gem"). This can further solidify TURQUOISE as the answer, given its long history.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a gem 'blue-green'?
Gems are considered 'blue-green' when their color spectrum falls between pure blue and pure green. This hue can arise from trace elements within the gem's crystal structure, like copper in turquoise, or from light interaction, as seen in some opals. The term 'blue-green' encompasses a wide range of shades, from sky blue with a hint of green to a deep seafoam green with blue undertones.
Are there other blue-green gems besides Turquoise?
Yes, while Turquoise is the most classic example, other gemstones can exhibit blue-green hues. These include Amazonite, known for its pale green to bluish-green color, Chrysocolla, which can be vibrant blue-green, and sometimes certain varieties of Jade or Fluorite. The specific shade and intensity can vary greatly.
How can gem colors help solve crosswords?
Understanding common gemstone colors can be a significant advantage in crosswords. Clues referencing colors like 'red gem' (RUBY, GARNET), 'green gem' (EMERALD, JADE), or 'blue gem' (SAPPHIRE, TOPAZ) often point directly to well-known stones. When a clue specifies a blended color like 'blue green gem', it narrows down the possibilities considerably, making gems like Turquoise, which are uniquely identifiable by this specific color, prime candidates.