Sunstone Gem Overview: Meanings, Raw Gem Pictures, Colors and Varieties

Sunstone is formed in molten lava and is ejected to the surface by volcanic activity. When lava separates or splits off, small crystals of sunstone are released. In modern times, deposits of solar stones are unevenly distributed all around the world. Numerous deposits are located in Norway, Greece, Russia, India, Canada, and the United States.

Sunstones are primarily sourced from Oregon in the United States, where a considerable number of sunstones of different hues are mined. You can also find sunstones of exceptional purity and expressiveness in India.

SUNSTONE COMPOSITION AND STRENGTH

Sunstone is a type of feldspar that is orange to red brown in color and can be either transparent or translucent. It is 70-50% albite and 30-50% anorthite.

There are bright inclusions (plates) within the stone. As a rule, such inclusions have a common orientation, and the light that hits the stone is reflected from them at a common angle. This is what causes the "glow" effect called Aventurescence - we will describe this in detail later.

On the Mohs scale, sunstone has a value of 6 to 6.5 out of 10. This indicates an average hardness, so care should be taken when wearing the stone.

It is not recommended to expose sunstone to heat, although over time, its color will remain stable and does not fade. That is, the stone is quite durable if cared for.

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUNSTONE?

The most common colors of sunstone are yellow, pink, peach, orange, fiery red, and even green.

These stones are differentiated by color, but more often by deposit:

1. Oregon Stones
   Sunstones from Oregon in the United States are exceedingly rare and unique in that they have a shimmering effect due to copper inclusions, while sunstone from India and other places have hematite inclusions.
   Although the general color of an Oregon is an orange sunstone gem, they can also be found in pink, peach, red, red-orange, red-green, and blue green. They can also be bicolor and tricolor in a combination of yellow, red, and green, although only a small percentage will appear bicolor or tricolor.
   Oregon red sunstone differs from sunstones found in other regions of the world in its color, strong pleochroism, and display of multiple colors in a single stone.
   
   
2. Norwegian Stones
   These sunstones are orange, brown in color, containing admixtures of goethite and hematite, and are noted for their shining brilliance.
   
   
3. Tanzanian Stones
   Characterized by a gray-green hue with sparkling overtones, due to the admixture of lamellar and hematite. Some red-yellow specimens have an aventurescence or "cat's eye" effect.
   
   
4. Indian Stones
   Stones from India generally have a red-orange color and biotite inclusions; that appear shiny and iridescent. As we have already noted, these are some of the purest and most beautiful of all sunstones.
   
   
5. Congo Stones
   Such stones are distinguished by their light green or red color.

WHAT IS AVENTURESCENCE?

The unbelievably beautiful sparkling metallic luster in sunstone is called aventurescence, that is caused by flat, reflective inclusions (sometimes called "schiller"). Such inclusions can be hematite, copper, or other minerals. Larger inclusions are more lustrous, while smaller ones create a red or gold sheen over the natural color of the stone.

It is worth saying that not all sunstones possess this amazing effect. Stones with this effect are always more valuable.