MOONSTONEA ghostly sheen moves under the surface of this feldspar, like moonlight glowing in water.
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Moonstone Description
Moonstone's delicate beauty and its long-established heritage make it perhaps the most familiar gem-quality member of the feldspar group.
Feldspars are the most widespread minerals in the earth's crust, as well as some of the most diverse. You can pick up a rock anywhere in the world, and you'll probably find that it contains a mineral or two from the feldspar group.
Moonstone is a variety of the feldspar-group mineral orthoclase. It's composed of two feldspar minerals, orthoclase and albite. At first, the two minerals are intermingled. Then, as the newly formed mineral cools, the inter grown orthoclase and albite separate into stacked, alternating layers.
Feldspars are the most widespread minerals in the earth's crust, as well as some of the most diverse. You can pick up a rock anywhere in the world, and you'll probably find that it contains a mineral or two from the feldspar group.
Moonstone is a variety of the feldspar-group mineral orthoclase. It's composed of two feldspar minerals, orthoclase and albite. At first, the two minerals are intermingled. Then, as the newly formed mineral cools, the inter grown orthoclase and albite separate into stacked, alternating layers.
More About Moonstone
When light falls between these thin, flat layers, it scatters in many directions, producing the phenomenon called adularescence. Adularescence is the light that appears to billow across a gemstone, giving its surface a glowing appearance.
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of adularescence is its appearance of motion. The misty light seems to roll across the gem's surface as you change the viewing angle.
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of adularescence is its appearance of motion. The misty light seems to roll across the gem's surface as you change the viewing angle.
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