mineral

Amazonite

Microcline (KAlSi3O8)

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Blue-green or turquoise-green; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Triclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in two directions; Specific Gravity: 2.56-2.58

Hardness: 6-6
Color: Blue-green or turquoise-green
Luster: Vitreous

Identified July 19, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Blue-green or turquoise-green; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Triclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in two directions; Specific Gravity: 2.56-2.58

Formation & geological history

Forms in granitic pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and schists. The color is attributed to the presence of small amounts of lead and water within the feldspar structure.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a gemstone for jewelry, carvings, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.

Geological facts

Named after the Amazon River, though it is not actually found there. It was famously used in the mask of Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian jewelry.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its unique blue-green color and pearly to vitreous luster. Commonly found in Russia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and the Pikes Peak area of Colorado, USA.