Sparkling gem of sunset

SUNSTONE

Sunstone Origin & Physical Properties

Sunstone is a transparent to translucent feldspar generally orange to golden or red in color.  Minute flecks of red copper or hematite formed within the transparent feldspar which align parallel to the plane of it cleavage. When properly polished by a skilled lapidary, light entering the stone reflects off of the minute inclusions and produce a brilliant display of metallic coppery flashes called aventurescence. Occasionally the inclusions align within the stone to produce asterism in the form of a four-rayed star effect.

Sunstone feldspar was formed within molten lava flows. As the lava slowly weathered away fine crystals of sunstone remained. Quality rough material is found within ancient basalt flows which is mixed with the host basalt rock.

Sunstone has been mined since the early 1800’s, starting near Lake Baikal in Russia and later in southern Norway. In the early 1900’s new deposits of Sunstone were discovered in Oregon, U.S.A. In 1987 it was declared are the official gemstone of the state. India has become the worlds larges source for Sunstone since that time. The aventurescence seen in gems from India is caused by the presence of millions of tiny platelets of hematite, while this effect in gems from Oregon is caused by inclusions of copper. More opaque stones are polished into cabochons while highly transparent material is generally faceted.

SUNSTONE GEMSTONE PROPERTIES
Category Properties

Chemical Composition

(Ca,Na)((Al,Si)2Si2O8)

Mohs Hardness 

6 – 6.5

Luster

Vitreous

Specific Gravity

2.64–2.660

Refractive Index

1.525–1.58

Fluorescence 

Dark brown-red

Crystal System

Triclinic

Diaphaneity

Transparent to translucent

Color

Orange, Red, Yellow, Copper

Origin

Australia, Canada, China, Congo, India, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, United States

Chakra

Sacral (3rd)

Zodiac 

Libra

Element

Fire

Metaphysical Effects

Dispels Fear, heightens intuitions, Good fortune, Vitality

Sunstone Healing & Metaphysical Properties

sunstone facet cabochon gemstone healing & metaphysical properties