Sunstone

Oregon's state gemstone is a complex chameleon, often defying the layperson
to identify it. The most sought after red (really more an intense orange)
is the only color known to many. However the most common color is yellow.
Greens and blue-green fill out its spectrum.

The basic material is plagioclase feldspar, with varieties called Labradorite and
Andesine [possibly both together]; and the colors come from copper, which may be
large enough to see as sparkling "Schiller", or microscopically diffused.
My personal conclusion is that the red colors come from light reflecting off
copper, while in the greens light is transmitted through colloidal copper
[both may happen in the same stone, making a bi-color, or an apparent color shift].



The gems hardness is about 6-6.5, making it useful for jewelry,
but wear with caution if you're hard on your rings.

These gem feldspars are mostly mined here in Oregon,
but are also be found in Mexico [yellows];
Labradorite and Spectrolite with flashing colors are found in Labrador,
Finland, and small clean stones are found in Madagascar.
Schiller Sunstone [of decidedly lower quality] is also found in India and
Africa, where some form Star Sunstones.
Moonstone is also closely related, but deserves its own page.

 

Look at what I've just found, anyone seen one like it?
I'm thinking it's a high resolution green sunstone [~2.7mm], inside a
yellow sunstone, and that the minute space between the two kept the
color [originly of both] from leeching out.

 

Extreemely Extraordinary 20.45ct Red Sunstone
While the cut may be windowy, the cutter did manage to
keep the amazing size over 20cts!
Also remarkable for its VS clarity,
It takes good eyes to see a couple of lines ending in
what look like lily pads, and requires magnification
to identify some smaller lines of schiller.
23x15x9mm 20.45ct@300/ct SS1 $6,135