Is Moonstone a gemstone?

Is Moonstone a gemstone?

Moonstone is an affordable gemstone that is well known since ancient times. It is polished as cabochons and used as beads and pendants. In some societies it is sewn into garments as a charm.

Is Moonstone a type of quartz?

Moonstone to contains Quartz, but also other minerals (in particular potassium and/or sodium. Moonstone is made from the minerals orthoclase and albite , which are part of a grouping of minerals called feldspar .

Is rainbow moonstone really Moonstone?

Rainbow moonstone is transparent labradorite , a closely related feldspar mineral with sheen in a variety of iridescent colors. Although it’s technically not moonstone, it’s similar enough that the trade has accepted it as a gem in its own right.

What color is a moonstone?

Moonstone is typically colorless, but it can occur in a wide range of colors, including gray, mocha brown, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue and white. It most often exhibits a white to bluish-white sheen, but other sheens can occur such as silvery and blue-orange.