Moonstone belongs to the Feldspar crystal family. This group has been gaining popularity over the last couple of hundred years. The oldest reference book on geology determines six different Feldspars.  The newest addition on the internet names more than 40 different varieties which have been discovered during the last 150 years or even less. It is just fascinating!

Moonstone is the most popular and recognizable of the Feldspar family. The luminous shine of this stone has attracted many people for the thousands of years. The shimmering light plays across the surface of the gemstone which is named the schiller effect or adularescence (after the Adularia Moonstone). It occurs when layers of Feldspar that have different indexes of refraction grow into each other and become compressed under pressure.

In Moonstone, layers of Orthoclase and Albite Feldspar are woven together. The structure of the crystal doesn’t allow the light penetrate the crystal. It helps achieve the effect of light skimming along the surface. The most popular type of Moonstone is the flash blue which is also the rarest of the crystals.

Not all Feldspars carry the schiller effect but those that are popular are used in the design of jewelry. Here belong the most widespread stones like Moonstone, Labradorite, Sunstone and Amazonite.

Also Moonstone is a very showy crystal. Its colors can range from white with a blue flash to peach, pink. It may have smoky colors that flash a silvery sheen.

The chemical structure of Moonstone includes aluminum, silicate (Quartz) and potassium. It can be found in pegmatites or in massive formations in igneous stones. The biggest stones can have the size of a men’s fist and larger. Such stones can be taken from gooey deposits of kaolin (a clay like substance that is the weathered by-product of some Feldspars). The most beautiful and quality stone is the Adularia or Rainbow Moonstone that exists the Ceylonese deposits and mines .

Moonstone that grows in the Swiss Alps mostly has a shape of a thin barrel like crystals. The four separate crystals are formed, after that they grow into each other and form extraordinary twins. Also the deposists of high quality Moonstones can be found in Brazil, India, Madagascar, North America, Tanzania and Europe.

The Moonstone has been a sacred stone for the Indians since ancient times. They think that it is very useful for lovers. If they wear these crystals it will raise the tender and passion and their heart can have more romantic feelings. Also if the lovers put the Moonstone under the tongue during the full Moon they will be able to see the future of their relationships. In order to make up after the huge fight each lover should place Moonstone over the heart and it will be empowered with love. After that they need to exchange the gemstone with each other and the quarrel will be forgotten.

In India Moonstones are sold only on a yellow cloth which is also sacred for Indians.

The Moonstone Temple of Anuradhapura was created on Ceylon around 100 BC. The legend says that the steps of the temple carried the mosaic made of Moonstone. But only ruins of this antique temple remained up to nowadays and you are able to see its amazing steps.