mineral

Amazonite

Amazonite (KAlSi3O8)

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Green to turquoise-blue; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal Structure: Triclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in two directions; Specific Gravity: 2.56-2.58

Hardness: 6-6
Color: Green to turquoise-blue
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified June 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Green to turquoise-blue; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal Structure: Triclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in two directions; Specific Gravity: 2.56-2.58

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous rocks, specifically granitic pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and schists through slow cooling of potassium-rich magma. It is a variety of Microcline Feldspar.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a gemstone for jewelry, ornamental carvings, and a popular specimen for mineral collectors and metaphysical practitioners.

Geological facts

Named after the Amazon River, though it is not actually found there. Its color was long thought to be due to copper, but it is now known to be caused by trace amounts of lead and water within the feldspar structure.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive blue-green color and 'Schiller' effect (metallic luster or schillerization). Commonly found in Russia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and the USA (notably Pikes Peak, Colorado).