Amazonite – Gemstone, Mineral & Precious Stone
Amazonite is one of the fascinating gemstones with a long history. The ancient Egyptians already crafted it into jewelry, as seen in the famous mask of Tutankhamun, which contains Amazonite alongside Lapis Lazuli, Carnelian, and Quartz.
Today, Amazonite is primarily used for necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and drilled tumbled stones, mostly in a table cut or as a cabochon.
Colors and Appearance
Amazonite is a microcline and exhibits a wide range of colors:
Green
Sky blue to bluish-green
Malachite green to turquoise
Partially yellowish, gray, or colorless
The crystalline structure can be columnar or thick-tabular, often twinned. Amazonite from fissures often shows well-developed crystals; otherwise, it forms massive or granular aggregates.
Name & History
Amazonite owes its name to the Amazon River or the Amazonian people. The naturalist Alexander von Humboldt discovered the mineral among the indigenous people on the Rio Negro, who initially called it "Amazonas-stone."
Mineralogy & Properties
Chemical Formula: K(AlSi₃O₈)
Mineral Class: Tectosilicate, Feldspar Group
Formation: Magmatic in pegmatites, also in crystalline schists through metamorphism
Luster: Pearly luster, vitreous luster
Crystal System: Triclinic
Mohs Hardness: 6–6.5
Cleavage: Perfect cleavage, uneven fracture
Occurrence
Amazonite is mined worldwide. Main supplier countries include: China, Brazil, Peru, India, Namibia, Madagascar, Russia, and the USA.
Use in Jewelry & Energy Work
Amazonite is mainly used for jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. It is believed to promote inner peace, harmony, and balance and is a popular gemstone for collectors, crystal healers, and spiritual applications.
Amazonite – a beautiful gemstone for jewelry, collecting, and positive energy.
