Moonstone
Moonstone is part of the Feldspar group – the most adundant minerals found in the Earth.
In the worlds first encyclopedia, written between 20-79 AD, by Pliny the Elder, moonstone is referred to as ‘astrions’ meaning ‘star stone’, named so as it possesses a silvery blue or white iridescent sheen.
Legend has it that amulets of moonstone, associated with the goddesses Isis (Egyptian), Diana (Roman) and Selene (Greek), were hung in fruit trees to produce abundant crops.
Moonstone was particularly important to the Sinhalese Buddhists who often used to build seven steps to their temples, inlaid with moonstone, to represent the stairway to nirvana.
According to an old Indian myth, lovers could put the stone in their mouths during a full moon and would be able to see their futures.
During the Art Nouveau era (1890-1915) moonstone was used extensively in jewellery, and the stone was said to represent innocence.
Where is moonstone mined?
Moonstone was once mined in Adula mountains of Switzerland, but is now largely mined in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Properties
Moonstone is 6.5 on the Mohs scale.
Colour
Varities of Yellow and Peach, White and Colourless.
