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It's a transparent or translucent feldspar of pearly or opaline luster used as a gem and is considered semi-precious. It was apparently given it's name because people thought that it looked like the reflection of the moon. A picture can be found here: http://www.discountgemstonejewelry.com/
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Moonstone is a popular name for Orthoclase and/or Plagioclase feldspar showing a high lustre. It is a semiprecious gemstone also known as Hecatolit, Hecatolita, Hecatolite, or Mondstein. The name 'Moonstone' was derived by its resemblance to the color of the moon, however the colors can vary from colorless to white, gray, brown, yellow, orange, green, or pink. Moonstone is found in Brazil, European Alps, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and USA (Pennsylvania and Virginia). The chemical composition of 'Moonstone' is KAlSi3O8. Specific Gravity is 2.57, Hardness is 6, and Refractive index ranges from 1.52-1.53. 'Moonstone' is also radioactive, but hardly detectable to the point that it is not harmful to humans.
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Birthstone for June, moonstone was very popular among the Romans, who thought it to be beams of moonlight captured within a gem. In India it was, and still is, considered a sacred gemstone. The most valuable variety of feldspar, moonstone has a beautiful iridescent effect known as adularescence. Moonstones come in a variety of colors that range from colorless to silver, to yellow, green, pink or golden brown. Moonstone cat’s eye are sometimes seen and were a favorite of early 20th century Art Nouveau jewelers.
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