Moonstone is the most well-known gemstone of the feldspar group. Named for its glowing color sheen that resembles the moonlight, Moonstone can belong to several different members of the feldspar group, especially Orthoclase and Oligoclase. Moonstone displays a unique play of color known as adularescence. This effect is in the form of a moving floating light or sheen. This phenomenon is caused by structural anomalies within the crystal formation.
| Chemical Formula | Plagioclase Feldspars: (Na,Ca)Al1-2Si3-2O8Orthoclase Feldspar: KAlSi3O8 |
| Color | White, Colorless, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray |
| Hardness | 6Â -Â 6.5 |
| Crystal System | Click here for information on the Crystallization of Feldspar Minerals. |
| Refractive Index | 1.518Â -Â 1.526 |
| SG | 2.56Â -Â 2.62 |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
| Double Refraction | -.0005 |
| Luster | Pearly |
| Cleavage | 2,1 - basal ; 2,1 - prismatic ; 3,1 - pinacoidal |
| Mineral Class | Orthoclase, Oligoclase, and other members of the feldspar group |
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