Moonstone is also known as selenite ("selene" means "moon" in Greek). It is one of the birthstones for June. Moonstones' variety of colors, pearly sheen and mystical properties make them versatile and desirable, especially as jewelry. Moonstones are found on most continents, making them abundant enough to meet demands.
Types
Moonstones belong to the feldspar group, the largest group in the earth's crust. Moonstones are either of the orthoclase feldspar (adularia) subgroup or the plagioclase feldspar (peristerite) subgroup. Moonstones come in a variety of colors, such as grey, brown, yellow, pale orange, peach, red, pink, green and blue. The rarest and most valuable moonstones are clear and colorless, with a hint of blue shine.
Features
Moonstones are named because their sheen is similar to moonlight. In 100 A.D., Romans thought the rock was actually made with moonlight. Moonstones' three-dimensional depth of color is called either adularescence (if the moonstone is from the orthoclase feldspar group) or peristerescence (if the moonstone is from the plagioclase feldspar group). The layering of all moonstones causes the light to refract repeatedly inside the stone and gives the stone its iridescent quality.
Geography
Moonstones can be found all over the world, but for higher-quality moonstones, many go to Sri Lanka. Mined from the earth where orthoclase and plagioclase layers are most abundant, moonstones can be found in irregular shapes among other gems, gravel and clay debris. Other countries where they can be found include India, Madagascar, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland, Tanzania, Myanmar, Russia and even parts of the United States.
Mystical Properties
Moonstones have been used for many metaphysical and healing purposes for a long time. One use is for protection. Sailors would carry moonstones to be safe at sea, and travelers would carry them to be safe on land. A second use is for increasing psychic abilities and inducing lucid dreaming. Third, moonstones are said to contain feminine energy, helping people to get in touch with their emotions and intuition. Healing is the fourth use, especially for issues related to female fertility, menstrual irregularities and body imbalances. Moonstones are said to be at their peak power during the full and waxing periods of the moon.
Refining
Unpolished moonstones look ordinary and have little of the captivating qualities of those found at the jewelry store. Once moonstones are cut and polished into shapes such as cabachon, where the bottom is flat and the top of the stone is dome-shaped, their quality and shine come through. Moonstones have a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, which is considered slightly hard but not as hard as a steel file, so they should be handled with care to avoid possible damage. Because of this relative softness, minor surface scratches can be easily polished out, restoring the stone back to its pearly luster.
Past Uses
The Moonstone Temple of Anuradhapura, a former capitol city of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), built around 100 B.C., featured elaborate steps with inlaid moonstones. These steps were of significance to Buddhism in its relationship to enlightenment. But the moonstones once there were said to have been looted throughout the centuries after India invaded in 933 A.D. Moonstones were very popular during the Art Nouveau period at the turn of the 20th century, when they were used widely in jewelry. One piece in particular was the tiara of turquoise, moonstone and diamond that the last Grand Duke of Hesse gave to his second wife. The tiara is now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
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