Sometimes the rarest beauty can be found in the most common materials. Feldspar is a volcanic mineral that can be found almost anywhere on earth. If you look closely at a piece of granite, you’ll notice that it often contains pink crystals. These pink granules are feldspar.<\/p>\n
But not all feldspar is created equal. The variety known as Moonstone grew slowly in molten rock, alternating layers of orthoclase and albite. Each layer is about the thickness of a wavelength of light. The two minerals refract light differently and the result is Moonstone’s shimmering look, where light seems to billow across its surface. This effect is called adularescense, similar in effect to opalesence. Here’s a brief video from the Gem Institute that shows the effect:<\/p>\n