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turquoise

(Encyclopedia)turquoise, hydrous phosphate of aluminum and copper, Al2(OH)3PO4·H2O+Cu, used as a gem. It occurs rarely in crystal form, but is usually cryptocrystalline. Turquoise is opaque and has a waxy luster; ...

variscite

(Encyclopedia)variscite: see turquoise.

National Museum of Anthropology

(Encyclopedia)National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City. The present building, designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and inspired by ancient Mexican architecture, was opened in 1964 and houses choice and extensive...

Agua Azul

(Encyclopedia)Agua Azul, series of waterfalls and pools on the Xanil River in Chiapas state, S Mexico, SW of Palenque in the Cascadas de Agua Azul Natural Park. The waters of the Agua Azul are noted for their brill...

Réaumur, René Antoine Ferchault de

(Encyclopedia)Réaumur, René Antoine Ferchault de rāˈəmyo͝or, Fr. rənāˈ äNtwänˈ fĕrshōˈ də rāōmürˈ [key], 1683–1757, French physicist and naturalist. He invented an alcohol thermometer (1731) a...

bunting

(Encyclopedia)bunting, common name for small, plump birds of the family Fringillidae (finch family). Among the American buntings are the indigo bunting, in which the summer plumage of the male reflects sunlight as ...

Neyshabur

(Encyclopedia)Neyshabur nāshäbo͝orˈ [key], city (1991 pop. 135,681), Razavi Khorasan prov., NE Iran; also called Nishapur. It is the trade center for a farm region where cotton, fruit, and grain are grown. Manu...

Zuñi

(Encyclopedia)Zuñi zo͞oˈnyē, zo͞oˈnē [key], pueblo (1990 pop. 7,405), McKinley co., W N.Mex., in the Zuñi Reservation; built c.1695. Its inhabitants are Pueblo of the Zuñian linguistic family. They are a s...

Barragán, Luis

(Encyclopedia)Barragán, Luis, 1902–88, Mexican architect. Trained as an engineer, he traveled in France and Spain in the 1920s, and in France again in the early 30s when he met and was influenced by Le Corbusier...

Monte Albán

(Encyclopedia)Monte Albán mōnˈtā älbänˈ [key], ancient city, c.7 mi (11.3 km) from Oaxaca, SW Mexico, capital of the Zapotec. Monte Albán was built on an artificially leveled, rocky promontory above the Val...

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