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Sunstone: Gem of the SunHistory & Mythology:Sunstone is an ancient gem, in fact sunstones have been discovered in Viking burial mounds. Unfortunately, sunstone has suffered from an inconsistent supply, however because of extensive reserves recently discovered, in the state of Oregon a consistent source of superb quality gems will remain available for the foreseeable future. Sunstone was in fact declared the State Stone on Oregon. Formation Process:Formed and crystallized in a lava flow, Sunstone (also known as helidore) is a member of the feldspar group of minerals and is closely related to moonstone. The majority of the Sunstones from Oregon fall into two grades of material, one that is cut en-cabochon like Opal or Jade and the other, much more rare that is faceted like Diamond or Sapphire. The cabochon material exhibits a unique visual phenomenon known as "Schiller" which is caused by millions of microscopic copper platelets. These copper platelets reflect light with varying intensities depending on their concentrations. The "Schiller" phenomenon makes the stone appear to "Glow" as if it had its own internal light source. Sunstones with "Schiller" retain this unique "Glow" even when viewed from a great distance and by star light! Future Aspects :It has been suggested that Sunstone would be an excellent alternative to Peridot as the August Birthstone. When set alone or in combination with other gems Sunstone makes a fabulous addition to any jewelry collection. Specifications:
Care & Handling:Sunstone (or any Helidore), is a quite scratch resistant gem, however it tends chip it impacted due to poor durable. Given proper care it will wear well for years. Any mild jewelry cleaner worked well for cleaning. |
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