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Chemical Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Mineral Name: Orthoclase, Plagioclase, Albite,
Microcline Feldspars
Color: Typically white, colorless or light
grayish blue. Also may be yellow, orange, brown, blue,
or green.
Hardness: 6 - 6.5
Specific Gravity: 2.54 - 2.63
Moonstone is in the mineral composition group of
silicate, and the sub-mineral group of tectosilicate.
A significant portion of the earth's crust is composed
of minerals from the feldspar group such as Moonstone,
Amazonite, Oligoslase, and labradorite, most of which
are not gemstones. In India, moonstone is considered
to be a sacred stone and has a floating light effect
and sheen called adularescence, compared to the light
of the moon. This phenomena results from alternating
layers of two kinds of feldspar, namely orthoclase and
albite, which cause light to scatter.
Rare forms of moonstones are from Plagioclase
Feldspars Albite and Labradorite. It is a popular gem
and comes in an assortment of colors. It is usually
set as a cabochon and extensively used in making
jewelry. It is monoclinic; it has one two-fold axis of
symmetry. Moonstone specimens commonly exhibit
chatoyancy, and sometimes display a strong cat's eye.
