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Sunstone
Chip Clark
Specimen | Catalog Number | Locality | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Oligoclase (var. sunstone) | NMNH G3273 | Norway | 13.00 ct |
Gift of John Sinkankas in 1953.
The minerals in the feldspar family make up more than half of the Earth's crust. Occasionally these common minerals form crystals that shimmer like the light of the moon or a rainbow on a soap bubble. Called iridescence, this phenomenon is caused by light scattering, or diffracting, off closely spaced layers in the feldspar crystals. The gems cut from these iridescent crystals are called moonstones, sunstones, and labradorite. Sunstones exhibit a reddish to golden schiller, resulting from light reflecting off numerous tiny copper or hematite (iron oxide) flakes scattered within the stones. The golden sheen flashing off of this 13ct cabochon sunstone from Norway is due to hematite inclusions.