Gemstones: Moonstone

 Moonstone - brings love into ones life.

Color: Moonstones come in a variety of colors, ranging from colorless to white, gray, brown, yellow, orange, green, or pink. Clarity ranges from transparent to translucent.

Description: (K, Na) AlSi₃O₈, Moonstone (also called rainbow moonstone) is soft milky white stone, the most valuable variety of feldspar with an rainbow sheen. Moonstone shows a silvery or bluish iridescence, that is caused by the intergrowth of two different types of feldspar with different efractive indexes. The term moonstone also has been applied to the plagioclase feldspars peristerite and labradorite, which also exhibit iridescence.

The name's origin: The moonstone named for its semblance in color to the moon.

Birthstone: Moonstone along with alexandrite and pearls are birthstones of Gemini (Twins): May 21 - June 21.

Wedding anniversary: Moonstone is the 13th anniversary stone.

Care and treatment: Moonstone can be easily scratched as it has a hardness of 6. Store moonstones carefully and never allow two specimens to touch each other.

From the stone history: Moonstone was very popular with the Romans, who thought it was formed out of moonlight, also used in Roman jewelry since 100 AD. In India moonstone is considered a sacred stone to this day.

Shopping guide: Stone has a rainbow-like array of colors and will pick up colors you wear. The best moonstone has a blue sheen, perfect clarity, and a colorless body color. It is often worn in rings, pendants or bead necklaces.

Healing ability: Moonstone aligns vertebrae. It is good digestive aid. Moonstone also soothes and balances the emotions.

Mystical power: Moonstone is believed to be protective for women and babies. It's also associated with the sea and planting cycles. Moonstone is said to balance yin and yang. In India, moonstone is regarded as a sacred stone. It is believed to bring good fortune. Legend says that Moonstone is a highly prized gift for lovers as it arouses tender passion.

Deposits: Moonstone is found in Brazil, European Alps, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and USA (Pennsylvania and Virginia). Sri Lanka produces the highest quality moonstones.

 

Posted in: Gemstones