mineral

Amazonite

Microcline Feldspar (KAlSi3O8)

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Blue-green, teal, or green with white streaks/patches of plagioclase feldspar. Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Crystal Structure: Triclinic. Cleavage: Perfect in two directions at nearly 90 degrees. Specific Gravity: 2.56-2.58.

Hardness: 6-6
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms primarily in granitic pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and schists. The distinct blue-green color is caused by trace amounts of lead and water substituted into the feldspar crystal structure during slow crystallization.

Uses & applications

Popular gemstone used in cabochons, beads, carvings, and wire-wrapped jewelry. Highly sought after by mineral collectors for its vivid blue-green color, especially when associated with smoky quartz.

Geological facts

Named after the Amazon River, although no deposits are known to exist there (it was likely confused with another green mineral). Notable historic specimens come from Pikes Peak, Colorado, and Amelia Courthouse, Virginia.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its distinct blue-green color combined with characteristic feldspar cleavage planes and grid-like microcline twinning (tartan twinning under microscopic cross-polarization). Found in pegmatite districts globally including North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, Madagascar, and Russia.