Moonstone - Tumbled Stone

Moonstone, also known as Adularia, is a natural gemstone prized for its pearly reflections, ranging from silvery white to blue, with shades of orange. Its name evokes the soft and mystical glow of the lunar body, recalling its subtle shine and changing brilliance.

Moonstone is composed of aluminum and potassium silicate. As a mineral from the feldspar family, it is primarily made up of Orthoclase (KAlSi₃O₈). During its formation, part of the Albite (NaAlSi₃O₈) may exsolve into fine layers, creating a characteristic microstructure. This internal structure is responsible for adularescence, an optical phenomenon that gives Moonstone its distinctive glow. When light passes through the stone, it is refracted and scattered by fine feldspar layers formed during magma cooling. This phenomenon creates a soft, pearly light effect that appears to move across the stone’s surface depending on the viewing angle. The most sought-after specimens exhibit a silvery or bluish luminescence, without yellowish tones.

Moonstone primarily develops within deep magmatic rocks, such as granites and pegmatites, but also in certain metamorphic rocks. It forms when magma cools very slowly beneath the Earth's surface, allowing feldspar minerals to organize into a specific crystalline structure.

Moonstone is often used in the creation of fine jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and pendants, enhancing its pearly glow and fascinating play of light.