Name: | Amazonite |
Derivation: | From the Amazon (in South America) |
Formula: | KAlSi3O8 |
Description: | Green mottled stone. If you turn it, you sometimes see white glints (see below, right). |
The Brazilian Amazons gave green stones to the men who visited them. This was beleived to be amazonite, but in fact, it was probably nephrite (jade).
Amazonite is a microcline feldspar, which means that it cleaves into not quite squarish chunks (unlike orthoclase). |
This specimen has been polished (tumbled). It brings out the colour better.