[Jewelry making - Article 00123] - [Orchid] Feldspar - Ubiquitous Mineral

[Sandra I. Smith]

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    Moonstone and sunstone, seemingly opposites because of their names,
    are in reality closely related members of the feldspar family.
    Formed when hot magma solidifies underground, feldspar makes up
    about 60% of the Earth's crust. It's found worldwide in one form or
    another. Mineralogists have identified at least 40 varieties of
    feldspar. 

    Moonstone is the feldspar most familiar to the general public. Other
    varieties used in jewelry include amazonite, labradorite, and
    sunstone. Moonstone contains layers of two kinds of feldspar, each
    of which reflects light differently. That's the source of its
    shimmering glow, which looks like moonlight. Schiller and
    adularescence are other names for the iridescent shimmer, leading to
    the alternate name of adularia for moonstone. 

    Nearly all moonstones come from Sri Lanka. Early Romans believed
    moonstone was captured moonlight. They began using it in jewelry
    nearly two thousand years ago. Some ancient peoples wore moonstones
    to protect them from epilepsy and sunstroke. It's also been used to
    stop headaches. Currently, those who attribute powers to crystals
    believe that moonstone is a receptive stone and wear it to draw love
    into their lives. They also use it for protection from danger when
    traveling. 

    Moonstone symbolizes the Third Eye in East India and is generally
    regarded as a sacred stone throughout India. 

    Although moonstone is usually translucent white, it occurs in a
    variety of colors, ranging from colorless to gray, brown, yellow,
    green, or pink. One form of labradorite feldspar displays many
    glowing colors. It's been named rainbow moonstone. 

    Amazonite, first mistaken for a kind of jade and named after the
    river where that jade was found, ranges in color from light green to
    blue-green to bluish. It's currently mined primarily in the United
    States. 

    According to folklore, amazonite brings success to those who wear
    it. 

    Blue, green, yellow, and copper-red labradorite is found primarily
    on the coast of Labrador. It's also mined in Madagascar,
    Scandinavia, and the United States. Labradorite mined in Finland is
    known as spectrolite, because of its multiple flashing colors. Some
    people describe it as looking like oil on water. 

    Long considered a good-luck charm, labradorite is now used to
    enhance psychic abilities. 

    Sunstone is normally colorless or straw-yellow, but may have red or
    green markings. Most sunstone contains thin slices of hematite,
    which creates a brilliant metallic reflection. Oregon is the largest
    producer of sunstone, with deposits located also in Siberia and
    Norway. 

    Although no powers were attributed to sunstone by the ancients,
    contemporary wearers believe it helps alleviate stress. 

    Sodium, aluminum, and silica combine with either calcium or
    potassium in differing amounts to form feldspar. Not only is
    feldspar found throughout the world in all kinds of rocks, it's also
    a component of some meteorites. 


    Mineralogists divide feldspar into groups with names like
    orthoclase, plagioclase, and oligoclase. Those names refer to the
    way in which the crystals are formed. Feldspars used in jewelry are
    generally cut into rounded shapes, called cabochons, to best display
    their glowing colors. 



****Sandra I. Smith, Writer ****






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