Moonstone

[Wwoofa]

Hi,
This month's "Gem of the Month" is .... Moonstone.

Feel free to add more info & pics. If anyone has any questions about Moonstone then this is a good place to post them.

You might like to change your "Gem of the Month" votes now that this one has been covered.

General Information:
Moonstone is a orthoclase feldspar white shimmer, similar to moonshine (therefore the name), called adularescence. Thin alternating layers of orthoclase and albite create the light
interference in this material that is responsible for its "shiller" or "floating moon effect".

Here are a few useful links that should cover all of the main information.

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/moonstone_(gemstone)
Mindat - http://www.mindat.org/min-2774.html
Gemdat - http://www.gemdat.org/gem-2774.html
Minerals.Net - http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/moonstone_gemstone.aspx

Fossicking Locations:

QLD - Moonstone Hill

The main fossicking location for Moonstone is Moonstone Hill in North Queensland.

Here's lots of good info & maps etc ...
http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/fossicking-pdf/moonstone_hill_gpa_2008.pdf

More excellent info & pics can be found here ...
http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=271.0

[Fullerton]

Moonstone Hill is a great site with lots more feldspar/moonstone to be gained over coming decades.

Only a very small percentage of feldspar from Moonstone Hill has the schiller effect though as shown in this specimen


However, some of the better non-schiller feldspar can be faceted.

[Crystaliz]

my friend Havarem   gave me some moonstone to facet and they facet very well, small pieces but still nice with moon effect