Moonstone with Adularescence — Miniature

$433.92
Chemical Formula(Na,K)AlSi₃O₈
Crystal SystemMonoclinic
Mohs Hardness6–6.5
Specific Gravity2.56
LusterPearly
TransparencyTranslucent

The floating blue glow — adularescence — is light scattering off alternating layers of orthoclase and albite feldspar. Sri Lankan moonstone has been prized since antiquity. Roman n…

10 in stock

SKU: TC-MIN-0104
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Description

The universe has 13.8 billion years of history. Some of it fits in your hand. The floating blue glow — adularescence — is light scattering off alternating layers of orthoclase and albite feldspar. Sri Lankan moonstone has been prized since antiquity. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed it formed from solidified moonbeams, which, poetically, is not entirely wrong.

This specimen originates from Dumbara District, Sri Lanka, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.

Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.

Formation

This specimen formed through geological processes operating over timescales that dwarf human history. The specific combination of chemistry, temperature, pressure, and time at this locality produced material of exceptional quality that makes it a valued addition to any serious collection.

Locality

Moonstone with Adularescence — Miniature from Dumbara District, Sri Lanka. This locality is known for producing specimens of exceptional quality.

Collector Notes

Handle with care; crystal terminations are irreplaceable once damaged.