Moonstone Stone Beads
Moonstone
beads are considered as very cherished stone in India. These
moonlight beads have wonderful moonlight. It is believed that these
beads have magical and wonderful power of healing and protection.
Sometimes, beautiful hue of rainbow colors gets reflected from the
moonstone beads. The other colors in which these moonstone beads are
found are: milky white, yellow, gray, tan, orange and peach. These
beads are either translucent or opaque. The creamy white color of
the moonstone beads is very lucrative. Occasionally, these beads
also display blue iridescence. Some Moonstone beads are called as "rainbow
moonstone" beads, and from these beads a multi-colored
iridescence is emerged. Very often, the moonstone beads are found
with a certain type of glowing or "cat's eye" effect. These stones are used mainly for the jewelry purposes, like to make bracelets, necklaces, bead crafts, rings and many more other. These beads are considered as alternative birthstones for the month of June. These beads are associated with the Zodiac sign of Gemini. The Indian believe that these beads help in promoting spiritual enlightenment and bring good destiny.
Some special care are needed to take for these moonstone beads, like protect these beads from harsh chemicals, abrasion and impact. The general harness of these beads vary in between of 6 to 6.5. The important worldwide sources of these beads are India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, U.S.A, Australia, Europe, Brazil, Mexico and Tanzania.
Moonstone Stone
Chemical Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Mineral Name: Orthoclase, Plagioclase, Albite, Microcline Feldspars
Color: Typically white, colorless or light grayish blue. Also may be yellow, orange, brown, blue, or green.
Hardness: 6 - 6.5
Specific Gravity: 2.54 - 2.63
Moonstone is in the mineral composition group of silicate, and the sub-mineral group of tectosilicate. A significant portion of the earth's crust is composed of minerals from the feldspar group such as Moonstone, Amazonite, Oligoslase, and labradorite, most of which are not gemstones. In India, moonstone is considered to be a sacred stone and has a floating light effect and sheen called adularescence, compared to the light of the moon. This phenomena results from alternating layers of two kinds of feldspar, namely orthoclase and albite, which cause light to scatter.
Rare forms of moonstones are from Plagioclase Feldspars Albite and Labradorite. It is a popular gem and comes in an assortment of colors. It is usually set as a cabochon and extensively used in making jewelry. It is monoclinic; it has one two-fold axis of symmetry. Moonstone specimens commonly exhibit chatoyancy, and sometimes display a strong cat's eye.
