Amazonite was named for the Amazon River in Brazil. Amazonite has been found in Brazil, but not in the vicinity of the Amazon River, for which it was named.
Amazonite is a variety of microcline, which is a potassium feldspar mineral. It is a greenish aqua blue stone that is related to such gemstones as moonstone, sunstone, and labradorite. Amazonite grows in very coarse-grained granitic rocks called pegmatites. It has a hardness of about 6-6.5 on Moh’s hardness scale (similar to stones like moonstone and labradorite), but it can cleave fairly easily.
Microcline is a fairly common mineral in the Earth’s crust, but the gem variety of amazonite is relatively uncommon. Amazonite is found in locations in the United States and around the world, including China and Madagascar.
Russian amazonite is a darker variety of amazonite with white striations through it. The white striations are exsolved albite (a sodium feldspar). In geology, this texture is known as perthitic.
From mineralminers.com: “Amazonite is said to calm one’s emotions & soothe nerves, and to enhance creativity and the ability to express oneself. The deeper the color of the amazonite, the more intense the effect is said to be.
Amazonite is said to alleviate muscle spasms and to help normalize calcium levels in the body, and to relieve stress and exhaustion.
Being a variety of microcline feldspar, amazonite is said to also possess all the properties of microcline as well: Microcline is said to be usefull in the treatment of eye disorders and fevers, and to help control water retention and to help with ease of childbirth. It is said to stimulate clarity of thought, to enhance understanding, and to improve one’s ability to cooperate with others.”
Question of the Day: What else would you like to know about amazonite?
micheledodge
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I know that there are many stones that are mislabeled as amazonite. I’ve been trying to figure out the correct name for those stones. I have some stones that are definitely Russian amazonite and some others that may be true regular amazonite, but I haven’t been able to definitively identify them.
There is absolutely nothing bland about basalt. Basalt rules! (I’ll look up the metaphysical properties of basalt later.)
I wonder what are the supernatural / spiritual properties of basalt or some other bland looking rock.