Thursday, 13 November 2008

Sunstone Another Exotic Beauty

An exotic beauty all it’s own with copper striations running through it's gemstone skin. As stated by the Wikipedia, “Sunstone is a plagioclase feldspar exhibiting in certain directions a brilliant spangled appearance, which has led to its use as a gemstone. The effect appears to be due to reflections from enclosures of red haematite, in the form of minute scales, which are hexagonal, rhombic or irregular in shape, and are disposed parallel to the principal cleavage-plane. These enclosures give the stone an appearance something like that of aventurine, whence sunstone is known also as "aventurine-feldspar."

Sunstone is not common, the best-known locality being Tvedestrand, near Arendal, in south Norway, where masses of the sunstone occur embedded in a vein of quartz running through gneiss. It is found also near Lake Baikal, in Siberia, and at several localities in the United States, notably at Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Lakeview, Oregon and at Statesville, North Carolina.
The feldspar which usually displays the aventurine appearance is oligoclase, but the effect is sometimes seen also in orthoclase: hence two kinds of sunstone are distinguished as "oligoclase sunstone" and "orthoclase sunstone." The latter has been found near Crown Point and at several other localities in New York, as also at Glen Riddle in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and at Amelia Courthouse, Amelia County, and Virginia. Sunstone is also found in Pleistocene basalt flows at Sunstone Knoll in Millard County, Utah.”

However, I have Oregon Sunstone a rare beauty in the gemstone world. This unusual gemstone is found in Harney County, Oregon and also in eastern Lake County north of Plush. What make this natural beauty so unusual are the inclusions of coppery crystals, which leads to the varying color of some stones, but turn the stone in the light and the results will be a spectacular array of multi-colors and the more copper, the darker the stone.

Here is a website that discusses all about the Oregon Sunstone, called ironically ‘Oregon Sunstone’ and the Dust Devil Mine, where Oregon Sunstone is primarily mined. “The Oregon Sunstone is known to occur in only three small deposits in the Central Oregon High Desert, primarily at the Dust Devil Mine. Native Americans in the Northwest once picked up the glittering gems from the ground and traded them to early Western settlers. Oregon Sunstones are often found in sacred bundles and local burial sites. These stones were traded as far east as the Mississippi river, and as far north as Central Alaska.Natural Oregon Sunstones are gem quality. The properties and essence of each gemstone, hue, saturation, gradation, etc., are unique. The copper in Oregon Sunstone, unlike all other sunstone worldwide, gives this gem its unique brightness and vivid range of natural coloring, and the magical coppery reflection known as the Schiller Effect. Most importantly, the Dust Devil Mine Oregon Sunstones are guaranteed all natural and untreated. Don't confuse NATURAL Oregon sunstone with the 'red andesine' on the market. The 'andesine' material is generally heated and diffusion treated to give the color to the stones. Oregon sunstone can also be named 'red labradorite' or 'yellow labradorite'. As no two pieces of fine Black Opal or Pearls are identical, each Oregon Sunstone is unique and glorious.”

Historic and Healing Powers
Historically Sunstone is dedicated to the Greek sun-god Helios because of its golden sparkle. The Greeks believed that sunstone protected the earth from disaster and kept the sun on its right course. Its healing powers are to promote self-healing and stimulate vegetative nervous system and ensure harmonious functions of all human organs. It is very helpful to those that have lack of sleep or exhaustion. An added effect is that it is known to have positive effects on the psyche, promoting good humor, cheerfulness and a good temper in the wearer. So if you are in need of self-confidence, self-esteem and a positive attitude to build upon one’s own strengths, then Sunstone would be a gemstone of your choice.

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