What You Need to Know About Moonstone, the Stone of New Beginnings

Moonstone is a beautiful gemstone that has been admired for centuries. It is a type of feldspar that exhibits a phenomenon called adularescence, which means it shows a soft glow or shimmer when light hits it.

Moonstone comes in various colors, such as white, peach, pink, gray, and rainbow. It is often cut into cabochons or beads to enhance its luster and display its unique optical effect.

In this blog, I will share with you some interesting facts and stories about moonstone, such as its origin, history, symbolism, and cultural significance. I will also show you some examples of moonstone jewelry and how to care for your moonstone gems.

Whether you are a fan of moonstone or just curious about this fascinating stone, I hope you will enjoy reading this blog and learn something new. Thank you for visiting! 😊

Moonstone gemology properties are the physical and chemical characteristics of this mineral that determine its appearance, quality, and value. Some of the most important moonstone gemology properties are:

• Chemical composition: Moonstone is a type of feldspar, which is a group of silicate minerals that make up about 60% of the Earth’s crust. The chemical formula of moonstone is (Na,K)AlSi3O8, which means it contains sodium, potassium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen.
• Crystal structure: Moonstone has a monoclinic crystal system, which means it has three unequal axes and one oblique angle. The crystals are usually thin and tabular, and often form in clusters or layers.
• Hardness: Moonstone has a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5, which means it can be scratched by a steel knife but not by a fingernail. It is relatively durable, but it can still be chipped or cracked by impact or pressure.
• Specific gravity: Moonstone has a specific gravity of 2.56 to 2.59, which means it is slightly heavier than water. Specific gravity is a measure of how dense a material is compared to water.
• Refractive index: Moonstone has a refractive index of 1.518 to 1.526, which means it bends light slightly when it passes through it. Refractive index is a measure of how much a material changes the direction of light.
• Birefringence: Moonstone has a birefringence of 0.008, which means it splits light into two slightly different rays when it passes through it. Birefringence is a measure of how much a material splits light.
• Pleochroism: Moonstone has weak pleochroism, which means it shows different colors when viewed from different angles. Pleochroism is a property of some gemstones that have more than one color.
• Adularescence: Moonstone has adularescence, which is the most distinctive and desirable property of this gemstone. Adularescence is the phenomenon of a soft glow or shimmer that appears on the surface of the stone when light hits it. It is caused by the interference and scattering of light by thin layers of different feldspar minerals within the stone. The color and intensity of the adularescence depend on the angle of light and the thickness and orientation of the layers.
• Color: Moonstone can have various colors, such as white, peach, pink, gray, and rainbow. The color is influenced by the presence of trace elements such as iron, manganese, titanium, and copper in the stone. The most common and popular color is white or colorless with a blue sheen.
• Clarity: Moonstone can have different levels of clarity, ranging from transparent to opaque. The clarity is affected by the amount and type of inclusions in the stone. Inclusions are internal flaws or impurities that can affect the appearance and quality of the stone. Some common inclusions in moonstone are cracks, bubbles, needles, and crystals. Some inclusions can enhance the beauty and value of the stone, such as those that create asterism (star effect) or chatoyancy (cat’s eye effect).
• Cut: Moonstone can be cut into various shapes and styles, such as round, oval, pear, marquise, cushion, heart, square, and triangle. The most common and popular cut for moonstone is cabochon, which is a smooth dome-shaped cut that enhances the adularescence and luster of the stone. Other cuts that can show off the optical effects of moonstone are faceted (with many flat surfaces), carved (with intricate designs), or drilled (with holes for stringing).
• Polish: Moonstone can be polished to give it a smooth and shiny surface that reflects light. The polish can also affect the color and adularescence of the stone. A high polish can make the stone more bright and vivid, while a low polish can make it more soft and subtle.
• Treatment: Moonstone can be treated to improve its color, clarity, or durability. Some common treatments for moonstone are heating (to enhance or change the color), dyeing (to add or change the color), irradiation (to create or intensify the color), coating (to add a layer of material on the surface), filling (to fill cracks or cavities), or impregnation (to seal pores or fractures). Some treatments are permanent and stable, while others are temporary or unstable. Treatments can affect the value and authenticity of the stone, so they should be disclosed by the seller.