Guide to minerals: Amazonite
Steven Marquez (USA)
The specimen displayed is a variety of microcline feldspar, referred to as amazonite. Many jewellers love this mineral for making cabochons because of its brilliant colour, which is thought to be caused by traces of lead and water. The gemstone is called the “Stone of Hope”, because it is thought to inspire confidence and hope. The name “amazonite” comes from the Amazon River in South America. It can also be found at the Lake George area, along with smoky quartz. However, its occurrence is very limited.
| Facts on file |
|---|
| Chemical formula: KAlSi3O8 Composition: potassium aluminium silicate Colour: bluish green or verdigris green Crystals: triclinic Cleavage: good, two directions at 90o Fracture: uneven Lustre: vitreous Streak: white Hardness: 6 Transparency: none Specific gravity: 2.56-2.57 |
An amazonite haiku:
Microcline feldspar.
Bluish or verdigris green.
The perfect jewellery
Further reading
Chesterman, Charles W. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.
Hall, Cathy. Smithsonian Handbooks: Gemstones. New York . Dorling-Kindersley, 2002.
About the author
the study of rocks and minerals in the Pikes Peak region. (Photo by Steven Veatch.)
Steven Marquez is an Earth Science Scholar with the Pikes Peak Pebble Pups and is a member of the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society. He is a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers, and is in the 8th grade. He lives in Colorado Springs.