Oregon Sunstone is actually not a sunstone at all, but is a Labradorite, a variety of feldspar and in fact the only true gem quality (facetable) variety of Labradorite. The pale, yellow coloured gems are the most common, with copper schiller gems being the next most valuable, and then the red/green and dichroic varieties being the most prized. It is found in only one place in the world - in the southeast corner of the Oregon Outback, USA and as such, has been named as the state gem of Oregon. This Sunstone is formed within molten lava, and carried up to the surface by the volcano. Once there it is gradually worn or dug away to reveal the sunstone inside the basalt rock. Although it is not widely known in the modern day gem market yet, it has been prized by native Americans for centuries. According to one Native American legend, it was formed when the blood of a warrior dripped onto the Sunstone, giving it the red colour and imbuing it with his warrior Spirit.
Alternative Names | N/A |
Colour | Yellow, Orange, Metallic |
Hardness | 6 - 6.5 |
Crystal system | Triclinic |
Streak | White |
Lustre | Vitreous |
Main Locations | Oregon, USA |
Chakra | Sacral, Solar Plexus |
Zodiac | N/A |
Numerology | 1 |
Planetary | Sun |
Element | Fire |