labradorite
labradorite & varigated apatite necklace
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composition | sodium calcium aluminosilicate |
name source | labradorite, from Labrador, Canada, where first discovered; spectrolite, in reference to the Finnish variety's spectrum of color |
other accepted names | Labrador feldspar; black moonstone, rainbow moonstone |
historical aliases | Labrador, pierre de Labrador, Labradorstein (Moravian), chatoyant, opaline and Labrador feldspar |
folkloric aliases | "firerock" and "firestone" (Inuit and Innu of Labrador) |
color | gray to smoky black with iridescence ranging from typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges |
color source | from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal |
significant sources | Finland, Labrador, Madagascar |
MOH scale | 6 - 6.5 |
care and treatment | Wash in warm soapy water or clean in ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. |
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