Moonstone: magical properties, types and who is suitable for it

Moonstone, also known as selenite and adularia, is a semi-precious, translucent mineral of a gray-milky color, beautifully shimmering in blue, pink, lilac, and white tones. The Hindus gave it the name “jandarakand”, which means “the radiance of the moon”.

Legend says that the exquisite stone appeared when the moon's rays hardened upon reaching the earth's surface. Therefore, it is believed that the adularian receives powerful magical powers from the night luminary.

Moonstone in the culture of different countries

Throughout the history of civilization, the semi-precious lunar mineral has been an object of admiration, admiration, study and use in various spheres of life.

This mineral became a real discovery for scientists. Its flickering is due to its internal structure. The whole secret is that the light falling on it passes through refraction and is therefore scattered in the eye. Because of this unusual ability of the gem and because of its enchanting beauty, it began to be often used to create jewelry.

It is also widely used to decorate designer items. Chroniclers from different countries described the history of the origin of moonstone. There are many myths and legends associated with it. For example, ancient mythology believes that this mineral contains fossilized moon rays. That is, he is part of the lunar surface, a gift and a messenger from heaven.

In the chronicles of different peoples, crystals are called petrified rays, the frozen light of the Moon. The Indians considered the mineral a symbol of passion and luck, a talisman that helps control destiny.

Moonstone became the subject of study by medieval alchemists. It was believed that any mineral could begin to shine if it was held under moonlight for a long time. In addition to glowing, it acquires other properties: it becomes smooth without polishing, and absorbs the cold of the moon at night. The extreme degree of endurance is the ability of the crystal to instantly cool boiling water.
Chaldean magicians claimed that the power of the moonstone depended on the phases of the crescent moon. During the full moon it is at its most powerful. Clairvoyance sessions were scheduled at this time. On a full moon, the magician placed this stone under his tongue. This opened the door to parallel worlds for him and he began to predict the future.
Yellow moonstone is called witch moonstone. It is believed that a dying witch must pass on her witchcraft knowledge. When there were no people willing to adopt the skills, the witches sealed the power into stone.
The Hindus saw the frozen and split light of the moon in the moonstone. Such a mineral gives the gift of divination. In India, there are still moon worshipers who worship the adularian.
The Arabs considered moonstone a symbol of abundance, so they sewed it on clothes.
For the Romans, it became a symbol of femininity and romance.

Modern science has studied the origin of moonstone and the nature of its glow. It is not related to the moon or extraterrestrial origin. But the impact of the stone on people remains a mystery.

How to recognize deception?

In India and on the island of Sri Lanka there is a deposit of the most valuable gems. These are exactly the places where true moonstone is mined. However, the deposits are practically empty today. This fact led not only to an increase in the price of the crystal, but also to the appearance of many fakes.

Synthetic stones look even better than natural ones. They are brighter and shinier, with an unnaturally rich shimmer. But artificial stone does not have the energy that a natural mineral has. A fake will be just an empty decoration without any magical or healing properties. When choosing a talisman, you need to know how to distinguish a real gem from a synthetic one.

The blue color used to cast the highest quality samples of the mineral is visible in natural stone only if you look at the jewelry at an angle of 12°. If you look directly at natural moonstone, its color will be slightly grayish. The fake shimmers equally no matter how you tilt it.

Adularia is a cold mineral. If a person managed to warm the stone in his palms in a few minutes, then it is a fake.

There were many who wanted to copy other varieties of orthoclase. Most often, white (blemorite) and black (labradorite) crystals are counterfeited. These are the most popular of all varieties of moonstone.

Varieties of Moonstone

Moonstones are minerals endowed with the property of opalescence. There are four varieties:

Belomorit. Matte snow-white or milky-white translucent crystal with a bluish tint. Named after its location - the coast of the White Sea.

Belomorit

Adular. A yellowish transparent or translucent mineral, a type of orthoclase. Albite microinclusions, reflecting light, create a shimmering glow. Rare expensive look. The most valuable is with a bluish glow.

Adularia

Sanidin. The value depends on the color saturation. A rare, expensive look - blue specimens with a play of colors in 3D mode. Multi-color samples from India are cheap and available to everyone.

Sanidin

Labrador. Black crystal with an unusual play of shades. It was first found on the Canadian peninsula of the same name, then in other regions. Labrador in Russia is in the Khabarovsk Territory. Used as a facing material (at metro stations, for exterior decoration of buildings).

Labrador

There are several types of Labrador:

black moonstone - a dark specimen with blue and blue sparkles;
sunstone - originally from the USA, with golden iridescence;
spectrolite is a Finnish mineral with multi-colored tints.

Labradorite shimmers in different colors when the angle of light changes. Flashes and overflows are similar to the northern lights, a phenomenon called Labradorization.

How to distinguish an original from a fake?

Finding a natural specimen is extremely important, because it is its natural origin that gives it all its properties. Fortunately, the moonstone is one of those that can be visually inspected to determine its authenticity. The assessment parameters include the following indicators:

Blue glow. A natural sample is capable of giving such a reflection only at a certain angle - 15 degrees. The fake produces such a glow at any angle and regardless of the light source.
Poor thermal conductivity. If the adularia, when held in the palm of your hand for a long time, retains its previous temperature, then this is a real specimen. Counterfeits made from artificial materials quickly take on body temperature.
Feels like a silky surface. The surface of the processed adularia has a unique texture. Once you touch such a gem, you will never confuse it with anything else. The fake has a smooth, even and indistinguishable surface.
Uneven internal structure. This indicator can be checked using magnifying glasses or a magnifying glass. The fake sample has an even structure, while the natural one is expressed by inclusions of volcanic rocks and uneven layering.
Water test. If you put natural adularia in water and leave it for at least 2 hours, it will look like lapis lazuli. The bright blue color will disappear as it dries. The fake, of course, will retain external indicators.

There are several recommendations for people who want to purchase natural moonstone:

Choose trusted stores. It is unlikely that a well-known chain of jewelry pavilions will sacrifice its name and sell fakes under the guise of natural pieces. In addition, such stores can provide relevant quality certificates and inspection results. Another advantage is the opportunity to refute the quality of the purchased product and get your money back without any problems.
Competent sales consultant. If a specialist is able to provide comprehensive information on all issues that interest you that relate to the stone, then you can trust his recommendations. They also value their reputation among clients, since part of their salary consists of a percentage of sales.

How and where is moonstone mined?

Moonstone is mined in ore, quartz and alpine veins. It also forms in rock cracks. Found in magmatic depths.

Main deposits:

Australia;
Burma;
India;
USA;
Madagascar;
Tanzania;
North and New Zealand.

The richest area for adularia is Sri Lanka. The highest quality crystals are mined there.

Moonstone is also found in Russia:

Ural (Makrusha);
Siberia (Inaglinsky mountain range);
Chukotka (Mnogovershinnoye field and Karamken);
Baikal region (Naryn-Kunta);
Irkutsk region (Slyudyansky and Olkhonsky districts);
White Sea coast.

The process of mining adularia is not much different from searching for other stones. It is carried out in the following sequence:

First, the mines are built. In many countries this is still done manually.
Rock rises from the depths.
It is washed in a pond or under pressure.
From the identified stones, experts select precious ones.
Next they are sent for polishing and cutting.
Once tested, the stones are used to create jewelry and talismans.

How to wear the accessory?

To bring maximum benefit to yourself, it is important to wear jewelry with such a stone correctly. The following tips will help with this:

How you should wear a mineral depends not only on the properties of the product, but also on its compatibility with clothing and other accessories. It is especially suitable for things with a pastel color palette. Such jewelry looks great with outfits in classic, office and business style.
The silver frame enhances all the beneficial properties of the stone.
Honey-colored crystal goes well with yellow or white gold.
Gray mineral looks good in a dark silver frame.
Greenish-blue examples are suitable for yellow gold frames.

How you should wear a mineral depends not only on the properties of the product, but also on its compatibility with clothing and other accessories. It is especially suitable for things with a pastel color palette.

The silver frame enhances all the beneficial properties of the stone

Moonstone perfectly complements jewelry and is distinguished by its unusual beauty

Advice! During periods of the waning moon, it is better to leave the stone alone so that it recharges with energy. It is recommended to dip the amulet in water. At the same time, it is cleansed.

Moonstone perfectly complements jewelry and is distinguished by its unusual beauty. When used correctly, this mineral will bring benefits to the human body and success in business.

Physicochemical characteristics

Moonstone is a translucent mineral, potassium feldspar. The spectacular glow, called adularization, is created by the thin-plate structure of the crystal. Semi-precious or ornamental stone. Looks like chalcedony or synthetic spinel.

Formula	K[AlSi3O8]
Color	Colorless, yellow, light gray with a soft blue tint
Shine	Glass
Transparency	Translucent
Hardness	6—6,5
Cleavage	Perfect
Kink	Uneven, stepped
Density	2.56—2.62 g/cm³

Physical properties

It belongs to the feldspar species and the orthoclase family. The chemical that makes up this stone is referred to as potassium aluminum silicate. In nature, adelars are represented by fragments of a prismatic structure with a pronounced lamellar structure.

In jewelry art, assessing the optical effect is extremely important. It is its ability to refract light and create an incredible glow that attracts jewelry lovers. Adularia is a stone of greatest interest to the jewelry industry due to its special blue iridescence (adularization). After polishing, this type exhibits dual optical characteristics - iridescence and cat's eye. A small number of deposits of adularia and its unique properties determine its high value.

An assessment of its density allows it to be classified as a soft mineral with low resistance properties. It is also characterized by:

High fragility;
fragility;
the ability to form powder upon destruction;
uneven edge when the rock is fractured;
high refractive index.

Magical properties of moonstone

Decoration with a moonstone
Beautiful, rare, luminous, personifying the moon - this stone initially had all the makings of becoming a magical talisman. The idea that moonstone brings misfortune is already outdated. It can only harm people who are overly dreamy and capricious, by enhancing these characteristics. It will have a beneficial effect on others. Moonstone should be worn with caution, first listen carefully to your feelings and relationships with people around you. In case of any changes for the worse, it is better to refuse wearing the stone.

The moonstone will show great power in the hands of moon people - those born on Monday or the full moon. He will become an assistant for them on the path to happiness. It will help you overcome obstacles and quickly achieve your goal; if you have the slightest doubt, you need to turn to him for help in order to choose the right direction.

The amazing magical property of moonstone is to help in gambling and any other matters where luck is required. For example, business. But at the same time, it also attracts love luck, providing the attention of the opposite sex, although usually love and luck do not coexist. This made the moonstone an object of desire among cheaters and avid gamblers. They were ready to kill for him.

Magic properties:

Strengthens the gift of eloquence and persuasion.
Treats melancholy and depression.
Prevents suicide.
It generates in the soul an attraction to the great, therefore a noble and strong person will lead to victories.
Warns of danger by changing color.
It fades if love has passed.
Protects against witchcraft.
Protects from quarrels. Endows people with prudence and wisdom, which help resolve disputes and disagreements peacefully.
It prevents passion from flaring up in a young girl’s soul and helps preserve honor.
Keeps marriage from cheating. The husband is not allowed to look at others, and the woman is protected from the encroachments of other men.
Helps to see the future, enhances extrasensory abilities.
It evokes tenderness and passion between spouses.
Singles will find a mate.
Amulet for travelers.
Calms, relieves anger.
Helps you find inspiration and reveal hidden talents.

The energy of moonstone depends on the moon. The closer to the full moon, the stronger the influence of the stone. It is not recommended to wear a moonstone on a new moon. He has nowhere to draw energy from except from the owner, so he will begin to drain the owner’s strength.

When choosing a talisman, it is better to choose a silver frame.

When deciding to buy a talisman with a moonstone, you should take into account your horoscope. Moonstone affects each zodiac sign differently.

Magic of the Moon

Surprisingly, the natural mineral is not popular among magicians and sorcerers. It's not a lack of potential, but the fact that the magic of the moonstone is too strong. If handled incorrectly, the talisman can deprive any magician of the magical power, so they were afraid of it and did not interact with the crystal unless absolutely necessary.

The magical properties of moonstone are dangerous only for people with special powers . For an ordinary person, the stone will become a faithful guardian. It is believed that it awakens love, so a moon ring on a girl’s finger was a sure sign that she was looking for a mate. The talisman patronizes only people with sincere, deep and pure feelings. Lust and lust have no place in the life of the owner of the talisman.

The stone not only attracts love, but can also become a protector. Adularia protects the owner from quarrels, disputes, dark spells and even natural disasters, for example, from a lightning strike.

Moonstone is suitable for creative people and card sharpers. In the first case, the talisman will reveal inner abilities, and in the second it will attract good luck. The amulet acquires its strongest meaning and influence during the full moon.

Previously, there was a belief that a person who managed to find and harness a gem acquired the ability to predict the future.

Medicinal properties

Moonstone Adularia
The properties of moonstone have been used in folk medicine for a very long time.

For humans, Tibetan healers identify the following range of diseases for which moonstone helps:

mental illness;
epilepsy;
nervous exhaustion;
kidney and liver diseases;
disorders of the genitourinary and urinary system;
paralysis;
insomnia;
arthritis;
sepsis;
respiratory tract diseases;
fractures.

Important!

It is worth wearing a moonstone around your neck, as close to your naked body as possible. It is believed that this crystal is able to balance the psycho-emotional state. Can be used during childbirth to relieve stress.

Description of the mineral

The gem has a thin-lamellar structure - this is the reason for such an unusual shine. The stone can be transparent or translucent , similar to chalcedony. Its second name is adularia, derived from Mount Adula in Switzerland, where the crystal was first discovered.

Moonstone (adularia) is very fragile and cannot be subjected to mechanical stress. Despite the fact that the material is ornamental and not precious, it is quite popular among jewelers and collectors. Inexpensive everyday jewelry is made from it. Many people try to get their hands on luminous specimens of a unique shape. Most often you can see moonstone in silver. Such jewelry looks quite elegant.

Deposits of the mineral were found in quartz and ore veins. It looks like a small diamond-shaped crystal. Samples do not exceed 10 cm in size.

Products made from moonstone became popular in the second half of the 11th century. It was at this time that mineral mining began to gain momentum. Jewelry samples used in jewelry are mined in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Orthoclase is also being developed in Russia. Four mineral deposits have been discovered in the country. The mineral is mined in the Irkutsk region, the Urals, the Khabarovsk Territory and the Kola Peninsula.

Moonstone got its name due to its unique shine, which makes the mineral look like an Earth satellite

We also recommend reading:

The history and curse of the Kohinoor stone The marvelous ametrine stone Characteristics of larimar and its main properties Selection of stones by date of birth

Talismans and amulets

Any jewelry with a moon crystal are talismans and amulets that help the owner in their own way:

a ring, ring or bracelet on the left hand will adjust the mood and help avoid conflicts when communicating with ill-wishers;
an accessory on the right hand will develop talents and intuition;
decoration will make the owner more tolerant and merciful.

The effect of moonstone increases with the growth of the crescent moon, reaching its maximum at the full moon.

Jewelry with mineral

Jewelry with moonstone
According to legend, a piece of the moon that fell to Earth brought with it its power, so people began to wear jewelry that protected their owners. The gem began to be actively used in jewelry production at the beginning of the twentieth century with the light hand of the trendsetter, the French designer Rene Lalique.

The gem is very delicate and fragile. It is necessary to protect the decoration from mechanical damage. They shine with a soft glow from the very depths, shimmering with white and blue shine. It's hard to take your eyes off them. Various decorations are made from the mineral:

brooches;
rings;
earrings;
bracelets;
pendants;
necklace;
beads

The gem is combined with many semi-precious, precious and ornamental stones:

pomegranate;
quartz;
obsidian;
crystal;
pearls;
agate;
topaz;
jasper.

Varieties of mineral

There is only one real moonstone - adularia. But since it is difficult to find, to attract customers, jewelers began to call other minerals with a similar shine moon crystal. For example, black moonstone is labradorite, a translucent quartz crystal with a blue tint.

Blemorite, belonging to the feldspars, is an opaque or translucent white gemstone with a blue moonlight. The description of the stone by jewelers says that it looks like a combination of pearls and adularia, although blemorite is very far from these stones.

Compare with moonstone and amazonite. It is a volcanic mineral of varying shades of green. It was classified as a lunar gem due to its soft tint. Amazonite is an ornamental material used in the manufacture of souvenirs and jewelry.

Selenite is a yellow, blue or milky white crystal that has the same radiance as adularia. Like moon crystal, selenite is a calcium-sodium silicate. This and the fact that the gem bears the name of the goddess of the Moon, Selena, classified the crystal as a type of moonstone. In ancient times, it had a different name - moon kiss.

It is worth noting that from a scientific point of view, it is incorrect to perceive these minerals as types of moonstone. Adularia is one of a kind. The gem does not have a specific shade; its tint depends on the angle at which the sunlight falls. It is not for nothing that it is called a rainbow, shimmering stone.

Cost of products

The price of a moonstone is determined by size, variety, degree of transparency, and color saturation.

The order of prices is as follows (per carat):

multi-color Indian gem: weighing up to 1 carat - $2-31, 3-5 carats - $80-350;
Labradorite - $12–15 ($60–75 per gram);
“rainbow” (transparent with a rare play of reflections) - from $100;
blue Sri Lankan - from $500.

The cost of jewelry with an adularia made of ordinary metal is 550-700, in silver - from 1200 rubles.

How to spot a fake?

Natural moonstone
Due to the high price of the mineral from Sri Lanka, it is the one that is most often counterfeited. Imitation moonstone is painted glass or plastic. No matter how perfect an artificial stone is, it cannot replace the original, because it is incapable of shimmering so beautifully. The easiest way to distinguish a fake is to examine the crystal for the presence of rich iridescence in the light.

To be more convincing, adularia is tested for compliance with a number of conditions:

When held in your hands, the fake stone heats up, while the natural one remains cool.
The artificial product looks perfect, but the original has voids and bubbles.
Moonstones feel like silk.
At a right angle, a real crystal is not capable of spreading light, so if it shines at any angle, then it is glass or plastic, the price of which is much lower.
When in water, the color of the adularia becomes bright and saturated.

Carefully!

A fake gem looks more impressive at an attractive price. But the low price will allow you to become the owner of only a beautiful piece of jewelry without the healing and magical properties of natural stone.

How to identify a gem

The advantage of adularia is that it is difficult to fake: the shimmer of moonlight is difficult to reproduce.

The natural pebble shines faintly, and longitudinal faults are visible on it. They are complemented by “centipedes” - paired microcracks parallel to the crystal axis. These are the signature features of the adularia.

Moonstone is distinguished by a range of tints from colorless to brown through yellowness, greenness, and pinkishness. But the glow is always blue, cyan or white.

Overflows are visible at a certain angle, disappear at a straight line. More often glass is passed off as a lunar gem, but it does not glow or create shimmer.

The middle position between imitation and natural gems is occupied by pressed material made from adularia chips with oligo-eye. It has the same transparency as the original, but the reflection is uniformly bluish, without shimmer.

Mineral care

Moonstone will delight you with its beauty and properties for a long time if you care for it correctly:

mechanical and ultrasonic cleaning methods are prohibited;
it is washed with soapy water and a soft cloth, after which the stone is thoroughly rinsed with warm water;
before doing household chores, jewelry with the mineral is removed;
the gem is stored in a box on soft textiles separately from other jewelry;
the moonlight lost during wear is restored by polishing or grinding.

Natural moonstone has the potential to improve the quality of life for those suited, at low prices per gram. The colorful shimmer of the gem will be an interesting addition to the existing image of both women and men.

Moonstone and zodiac signs

Moonstone is the strongest crystal with rich astrological properties, but they do not affect every zodiac sign. Who is the crystal suitable for? Preference is given to people born on a full moon. The stone will protect these people, bring them good luck, and help them in difficult situations.

Zodiac sign	Compatibility
Scorpion	The energy of the stone is ideal and will help solve financial problems.
Sagittarius	It is combined with the energy of the stone, with the help of which it will solve pressing problems.
Virgo	It will help you gain wisdom and prudence.
Scales	Full compatibility of the mineral will help develop talents.
Lions	It will pacify ambitions and give peace and confidence.
Cancer	It fits perfectly, the energy is native to the sign, it brings good luck in everything.
Aries	It is not recommended to use stone, it makes them lazy, making them inert and passive.
Aquarius	It is not advisable to resort to the power of the stone.
Fish	It is better to do without the help of a stone.
Twins	The stone will make the duality of the sign invisible and will help you be more judicious in making decisions.
Capricorns	Neutral energy relation to the sign. It won't hurt.
Taurus	Allows you to relieve tension. He will give you peace.

Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?

For moonstone, the zodiac sign is a particularly relevant sign for the combination. It is the position of the stars and planets that connects the zodiac sign and the adularian.

Who is suitable according to zodiac sign:

Twins. They are naturally unstable in their goals and intentions. Geminis are characterized by instability of emotions and relationships. Adularia will give them confidence and poise, allowing them to calm down.
Aquarius. This sign is characterized by such a trait as excessive stubbornness and love of freedom. The stone will balance these aspirations and limit the negative influence of ill-wishers and envious people.
Scales. Creative and unique Libra cannot find its application in life. The mineral will give peace and stability, and with them will come awareness of one’s place in the world.
Scorpios. The gem stimulates intellectual activity and a sense of intuition. It is precisely this sensitive attitude that Scorpios lack to achieve the necessary goals.
Sagittarius. The mineral will limit their hasty decisions and thoughtless words, and will bring balance to the lives of active people born under this sign.
Cancers. Cancers, who are soft and compliant by nature, will become more confident and assertive thanks to Adularia. Zodiac compatibility with them is ideal.
Taurus. Emotional, bright Taurus will find calm and balance. No troubles will make them angry.
Virgos. Adularia will give mysterious Virgos a feeling of clarity and calm, and will help them unleash their creative potential.

However, moonstone can also harm individual zodiac signs. According to the horoscope, he does not fit with Aries and Leo. These signs are believed to have strong characteristics. The gem will not help them find harmony in any way, and may even harm them. For example, Aries' leadership qualities can transform into authoritarianism and excessive control over other people. And increasing the confidence and activity of already active Leos will lead to the fact that they will be devastated morally and physically.

In order for the effect of the moonstone to manifest itself clearly, it is worth considering the wearing recommendations for individual signs:

Cancers. Men are recommended to wear it closer to the body (pendant), women closer to the neck (necklace).
Virgos. It is not recommended to wear jewelry with adularia, but a figurine with it on your desktop will be very appropriate.
Sagittarius. Men are recommended to wear a ring, and women a bracelet or ring.
Geminis are recommended to make a brooch or pendant with an adularia.
Aquarians will benefit from moonstone when it is in contact with the body.
Cufflinks are suitable for Sagittarius men, and earrings for women.
Libra will maximize the resources of the gem if they put it on their hand (ring, bracelet, ring).
It will help Taurus if it is closer to the head. For men, it is possible to wear a tie clip, and for women, earrings.

The greater the influence of the Moon on a person, the better the stone will project its properties onto him. If the birth coincides with the full moon, then the adularia will be a talisman for life and will provide protection from negative energy. He will also move people to new achievements.

Favorable time to buy

A lunar gem will not only be a decoration, but also a magical assistant and doctor if it is bought, brought into the house and started to be used on a certain lunar day:

Type of stone	Purchase (lunar day)	Beginning of use (lunar day)
adularia	2	16
Labrador	5	19
selenite	13	27
belomorite	14	28