Feldspar group (orthoclase)
Moonstone
Moonstone's floating sheen - adularescence - comes from its internal structure rather than its colour: the stone is built from alternating microscopic layers of two feldspars, and light scattering between those layers throws back a soft blue-white glow.
- Mineral family
Feldspar group (orthoclase)
- Typical colours
Milky white to pale grey, often with a cool blue sheen
- Hardness (Mohs)
6 - 6.5
- Luster
Pearly to vitreous
- Texture
Smooth and slightly waxy under the thumb, translucent at the edges, with the sheen sliding across the surface as the bead turns.
Caring for it
Feldspar cleaves easily, so treat moonstone as a soft stone. Keep it away from knocks and hard surfaces, remove it before washing up or swimming, avoid perfume and household cleaners, and wipe it with a soft dry cloth. Store it in its own pouch.