mineral

Amazonite

Microcline (KAlSi3O8) with lead impurities

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Triclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in two directions; Specific gravity: 2.56-2.58

Hardness: 6-6
Color: Green to bluish-green
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified May 30, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Green to bluish-green; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Triclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in two directions; Specific gravity: 2.56-2.58

Formation & geological history

Formed in granitic pegmatites and metamorphic rocks through the slow cooling of magma, particularly where lead and water are present to impart color. Commonly associated with the Pikes Peak Granite (approx. 1.08 billion years old).

Uses & applications

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

Geological facts

The unique green color was long attributed to copper, but research in the 1980s revealed it is actually caused by trace amounts of lead and water within the feldspar lattice.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinct teal or mint green color and perthitic texture (white streaks of albite). Commonly found in the Ilmen Mountains (Russia), Colorado (USA), and Madagascar.