moonstone (orthoclase)
moonstone & iolite necklace
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| composition | potassium aluminum silicate |
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| name source | from its resemblance to the moon and its association with the Goddess from ancient times |
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| other accepted names | adularia |
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| historical aliases | selenites, astrions, asteria, or astriotes (meaning ("star-stones"); "good luck stone" (Asian), "national stone of Sri Lanka," "girasol," "fish-eye," "wolf's-eye," "Ceylonese opal," "water opal" |
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| folkloric aliases | "no tears" (Asian), "stone of love," "stone of wishes and intuition" (peach moonstone) |
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| color | soft milky white with grey and blue iridescence |
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| color source | the reflection of light from the internal structure, made up of alternating layers of albite and orthoclase feldspar |
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| significant sources | Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka (Ceylon) |
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| MOH scale | 6 - 6.5 |
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| care and treatment | Wash in warm soapy water or clean in ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. |
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