Moonstone (gemstone)
Semi-precious gemstone / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Not to be confused with Moon rock.
For other uses, see Moonstone (disambiguation).
Moonstone is a sodium potassium aluminium silicate ((Na,K)AlSi3O8) of the feldspar group that displays a pearly and opalescent schiller.[1][2] An alternative name for moonstone is hecatolite[2] (from goddess Hecate).
Quick Facts General, Category ...
Moonstone | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Orthoclase variety |
Formula (repeating unit) | (Na,K)AlSi3O8 |
Crystal system | Monoclinic |
Identification | |
Color | Can be numerous colors, including blue, grey, white, pink, peach, green and brown, as well as colorless |
Cleavage | perfect |
Fracture | uneven to conchoidal |
Mohs scale hardness | 6.0 |
Luster | Opalescent |
Streak | white |
Specific gravity | 2.54–2.66 |
Optical properties | for orthoclase and sanidine, biaxial (–); for oligoclase, biaxial +/– |
Refractive index | 1.518–1.547 |
Birefringence | 0.005–0.01 |
Dispersion | 0.012 |
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