mineral

Amazonite

Potassium feldspar (KAlSi3O8)

Hardness: 6-6.5 (Mohs scale), Color: blue-green to turquoise with white streaks, Luster: Vitreous to pearly, Crystal Structure: Triclinic, Cleavage: Perfect in two directions

Hardness: 6-6

Identified May 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6-6.5 (Mohs scale), Color: blue-green to turquoise with white streaks, Luster: Vitreous to pearly, Crystal Structure: Triclinic, Cleavage: Perfect in two directions

Formation & geological history

Formed in plutonic rocks (primarily pegmatites) from hydrothermal activity; most deposits range from Precambrian to Paleozoic in age.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a gemstone for jewelry, beads, cabochons, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors due to its distinct color.

Geological facts

Named after the Amazon River, though it is not actually found there. Its color was long thought to be caused by copper, but modern research suggests it's due to traces of lead and water within the feldspar lattice.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unique 'schiller' or grid-like white pattern (perthitic texture) against the blue-green base. Commonly found in Brazil, Colorado (USA), Russia, and Madagascar.