Gemstone Shopping: Delve into the Variety of Feldspar Stones
Feldspar, a diverse mineral group, encompasses more than 30 names, including several popular gemstone varieties that captivate with their unique optical effects and vibrant colours. Here's a closer look at some of the most noteworthy feldspar gemstones:
## Popular Feldspar Gemstones
1. **Moonstone** - Moonstone is renowned for its adularescence, a mesmerising light that seems to drift across the stone. Typically, it has a milky white or transparent body with a bluish luster[1][5]. - Moonstone belongs to the adularia feldspar group[5].
2. **Labradorite** - Labradorite is famous for its labradorescence, which showcases a play of colours such as blue, green, gold, and purple. It belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group[1]. - Labradorite has several varieties, including: - **Spectrolite**: Known for its vivid colours, including blue, green, yellow, red, and purple. It is rare and highly prized[1]. - **Rainbow Labradorite**: A marketing term for flashy labradorite with multiple colour flashes[1]. - **Oregon Sunstone**: A copper-bearing labradorite that displays metallic schiller or aventurescence and can appear red, green, yellow, or colourless[1]. - **Andesine-Labradorite**: A blend that may show red, orange, or green hues[1].
3. **Sunstone** - Although not strictly a feldspar, sunstone is often mistaken for one due to its appearance. It is typically associated with metallic schiller or aventurescence, which can appear as red, green, or yellow metallic inclusions. However, the term "Oregon Sunstone" refers to a copper-bearing labradorite[1].
These feldspar gemstones are cherished for their distinctive optical effects and colour displays, making them highly desirable for gemstone enthusiasts. - The best moonstones combine light body colour, high transparency, and a favourably oriented bright bluish adularescence. - Feldspars are silicates composed of the oxides of silicon, aluminium, potassium, sodium, or calcium.
[1] Source: Geology.com [5] Source: Gemstone.org
- Due to their fascinating light displays and captivating colors, research in the field of science and technology is ongoing to understand and replicate the optical effects seen in moonstones, labradorite, and other feldspar gemstones, potentially leading to advancements in medical-condition treatment and diagnostics where light manipulation plays a crucial role.
- In the medical field, the use of innovative technology combined with feldspar gemstones' unique properties, such as the labradorescence of labradorite or the adularescence of moonstone, could lead to the development of cutting-edge diagnostic tools, revolutionizing the way we detect and manage various medical-conditions.
