igneous
Amazonite-bearing feldspar (likely raw amazonite)
Amazonite, a blue-green variety of microcline feldspar; KAlSi₃O₈
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectPale blue-green, blocky specimen with salmon-colored seams or inclusions, consistent with feldspar. Microcline has Mohs hardness 6–6.5, vitreous to pearly luster, triclinic crystals, and two nearly perpendicular cleavage directions; the exact identity is uncertain from the photo alone.
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Pale blue-green, blocky specimen with salmon-colored seams or inclusions, consistent with feldspar. Microcline has Mohs hardness 6–6.5, vitreous to pearly luster, triclinic crystals, and two nearly perpendicular cleavage directions; the exact identity is uncertain from the photo alone.
Formation & geological history
Amazonite typically forms in pegmatites as granitic magma cools slowly and concentrates large feldspar crystals. Such deposits are generally Precambrian, though the specimen’s age and locality cannot be determined visually.
Uses & applications
Used as an ornamental and lapidary stone, in beads and carvings, and collected as a mineral specimen; feldspar is also an important industrial raw material for ceramics and glass.
Geological facts
Amazonite’s blue-green color is associated with trace lead and water-related defects in its crystal structure; the salmon-colored material may be feldspar alteration or another associated mineral.
Field identification & locations
Look for opaque blue-green color, blocky shape, and two cleavages near 90°; confirm with a hardness and mineralogical test. Notable sources include Colorado and Virginia (USA), Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.
