Leslie Massey
Moonstone, a type of feldspar, is a popular gemstone used in jewellery. It is treasured globally for its signature adularescence, a shimmering, moonlight-like glow ranging from blue to white. Moonstone deposits can be found in several places around the world, including Armenia, Australia, the Austrian Alps, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States. In this article, we will focus specifically on where to find moonstone in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Moonstone deposits | Armenia (mainly from Lake Sevan), Australia, the Austrian Alps, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, the United States, Malawi, Tanzania |
| Moonstone jewellery | Necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, anklets |
| Moonstone jewellery brands | Made in Earth, Meelah Collections, Laihas Bohemian Dreaming |
| Moonstone jewellery materials | Sterling silver, gold vermeil, brass, macramé cords |
| Moonstone jewellery price range | Free shipping on orders over $100, up to 40% off sitewide, free AU shipping on $100+ orders |
| Moonstone in video games | Moonstone Island, where moonstones can be found in glowing patches of grass, on top of stones, or in treasure chests |
| Moonstone appearance | A shimmering, moonlight-like glow ranging from blue to white, with a soft, watery, milky opaqueness and a silvery blue or rainbow reflection |
| Moonstone composition | Sodium potassium aluminium silicate ((Na,K)AlSi3O8) of the feldspar group |
| Moonstone varieties | Orthoclase feldspar mineral adularia, plagioclase feldspar oligoclase, potassium feldspar orthoclase, labradorite moonstone, orthoclase moonstone |
| Moonstone special effects | Adularescence, chatoyancy ("cat's eye" effect), asterism (rare four-legged stars) |
| Moonstone colours | White, beige, brown, red-brown, orange, greenish, yellowish, colourless, transparent |
| Moonstone cultural significance | Associated with fertility, love, protection, lunar energy, and new beginnings |
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What You'll Learn
Moonstone deposits in Australia
Moonstone, a type of feldspar, can be found in several places around the world, including Australia. Deposits of moonstone have been discovered in various countries such as Armenia, Australia, Austria, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States. The most common variety of moonstone is orthoclase feldspar mineral adularia, named after an early mining site near Mt. Adular in Switzerland, now known as St. Gotthard.
Moonstone is formed from a solid solution of plagioclase feldspar oligoclase and potassium feldspar orthoclase. The stone's distinctive appearance, known as adularescence, is caused by light interference from alternating layers of albite and orthoclase feldspar within the stone. This interference creates a soft, flowing sheen that moves across the stone's surface, ranging from white to blue hues.
While moonstone deposits are found in Australia, the historical sources of the most valuable transparent moonstones with a strong blue sheen were in Myanmar. In the present day, the majority of commercial moonstones are sourced from Sri Lanka.
The presence of moonstone deposits in Australia contributes to the global supply of this gemstone, which is valued for its unique visual properties and cultural significance. Moonstone has been associated with mystical qualities, fertility, love, protection, and lunar energy, making it a popular choice for jewellery and gemstone enthusiasts alike.
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Moonstone jewellery in Australia
Moonstone is a well-known and sought-after gemstone for jewellery, particularly in Australia. The stone is a sodium potassium aluminium silicate of the feldspar group, displaying a distinctive pearly and opalescent sheen called adularescence or schiller. This effect produces a milky, bluish interior light, reminiscent of moonlight, and gives the stone its name. Moonstone is a relatively soft stone, with a hardness of 6, so caution is needed when wearing moonstone jewellery to avoid scratches or chips.
Moonstone jewellery is available in Australia from several retailers, including Meelah Collections and Made in Earth, offering a range of necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and anklets. Meelah Collections offers handcrafted jewellery with healing crystals and sacred geometry, designed to resonate with feminine energy and enhance natural beauty. Their collection includes simple and elaborate moonstone necklaces and pendants, set in sterling silver, brass or natural-looking Macramé cords. Made in Earth also offers a range of moonstone jewellery, including necklaces, earrings and rings, with free shipping on orders over $100.
Another option for purchasing moonstone jewellery in Australia is LAIHA'S Bohemian Dreaming, which offers a large collection of artisan-made moonstone jewellery. Their pieces feature genuine moonstone gems set in solid sterling silver or high-quality gold vermeil. Their collection includes moonstone rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more, showcasing the natural beauty of the stone with its soft, watery opaqueness and silvery blue or rainbow reflection. LAIHA'S Bohemian Dreaming often has site-wide sales, offering discounts of up to 40% off.
When choosing moonstone jewellery, it is important to consider the stone's characteristics and care requirements. Moonstones with a clear, colourless body and vivid blue adularescence are typically the most valuable. To protect the stone, opt for settings that shield it from rough impacts, especially in rings, where exposure to scratches is higher. Brooches and pendants are safer choices, reducing the risk of damage. With proper care and protection, moonstone jewellery can be a beautiful and mystical addition to any collection.
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Rainbow moonstone gems
Moonstone is a sodium potassium aluminium silicate of the feldspar group that displays a pearly and opalescent schiller. An alternative name for moonstone is hecatolite, which is derived from the goddess Hecate. The name moonstone comes from the stone's characteristic visual effect, called adularescence or schiller, which produces a milky, bluish interior light. This effect is caused by light diffraction through alternating layers of orthoclase and albite within the stone. The diffracted light varies from white to blue, depending on the thinness of the albite layers.
Moonstone is a gem that is treasured globally and is particularly popular in jewellery. It has a hardness of 6 and a slight tendency to cleave or chip, so caution is required when wearing or setting moonstone jewellery. Moonstone is also associated with fertility, love, protection, and lunar energy.
Rainbow moonstone is a variety of moonstone that is colourless and highly transparent, with a multi-coloured glow. It is sometimes referred to as "labradorite" and belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group. Rainbow moonstone exhibits a soft, watery, milky opaqueness with a silvery blue or rainbow reflection called chatoyancy that moves as a line across the surface as the light varies.
Moonstone deposits can be found in several places around the world, including Armenia, Australia, the Austrian Alps, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States. While the most valuable, transparent moonstones with a strong blue sheen historically came from Myanmar, today, most commercial moonstones come from Sri Lanka.
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Moonstone rings, necklaces, earrings
Moonstone is a popular gemstone for jewellery due to its ethereal, romantic allure. Its shimmering, moonlight-like glow ranges from blue to white, with a unique structure that creates a beautiful sheen. The value of a moonstone depends on its clarity and colour—the more transparent and colourless the stone, and the stronger its blue sheen, the more valuable it is.
Laihas Bohemian Dreaming also offers a large collection of artisan-made moonstone jewellery. Their pieces feature genuine moonstone gems set in solid sterling silver or high-quality gold vermeil. Their collection includes rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, showcasing the natural beauty of the gemstone.
Made in Earth Australia provides another option for moonstone jewellery, with a range of necklaces, earrings, and rings available. Their collection features various styles, including birthstones and bridal jewellery.
When choosing moonstone jewellery, it is important to consider the stone's hardness and tendency to cleave or chip. Protective settings, especially for rings, are recommended to shield the stone from scratches and rough impacts.
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Moonstone's mystical properties
Moonstone is a captivating and mystical stone with unique lunar energies. Its luminous glow and divine feminine associations evoke intuition, inner wisdom, and emotional balance. It is a stone of new beginnings and self-discovery, guiding individuals towards their true potential and highest selves. With links to the crown, third eye, and heart chakras, moonstone helps to soothe emotional instability and stress by providing calmness and preparing individuals for their journeys ahead.
Moonstone is also known as the "Traveller's Stone", offering spiritual nourishment and a connection to lunar energy during life's journeys. Its shimmery optical effect, known as adularescence, creates a moonlit glow when held at the right angle. The stone's bluish-white sheen, ranging from blue to white, is reminiscent of the moon's mystique, inspiring romantic lore associated with fertility, love, protection, and lunar energy.
The stone's metaphysical properties make it a protective charm and crystal ally for harmony and balance. It enhances passion and creativity while offering calming energy and stress relief. Moonstone is a versatile stone that can be incorporated into daily life through jewellery or by placing tumbled or raw stones around the home and office to promote calmness, balance, and peaceful sleep.
Moonstone is believed to hold healing properties, offering physical, emotional, and metaphysical healing for individuals born under Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio zodiac signs. It is also associated with hormonal balance, reproductive health, and spiritual growth. By meditating with a moonstone, individuals can deepen their intuition, emotional awareness, and connection to the divine feminine.
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Frequently asked questions
You can find moonstone jewellery at Meelah Collections, which offers free shipping in Australia for orders over $100. You can also find moonstone jewellery at Laihas Bohemian Dreaming, which offers a 40% discount sitewide.
Another place to buy moonstone in Australia is Made in Earth, which offers free shipping on orders over $100.
Moonstone deposits can be found in Armenia (mainly from Lake Sevan), the Austrian Alps, Mexico, Madagascar, Myanmar, Norway, Poland, India, Sri Lanka, the United States, Malawi, and Tanzania.
Moonstone is a type of feldspar that comes in several varieties, displaying a pearly and opalescent schiller. It is a sodium potassium aluminium silicate of the feldspar group.
Moonstones can be found at night, between 6 pm and 2 am, in glowing patches of grass on any island, including Moonstone Island. You can also find them on top of stones or inside treasure chests within random mines, dungeons, or those found via treasure maps.
