OREGON SUNSTONE

Sunstone is an ancient gem, in fact Sunstones have been discovered in Viking burial mounds. It was thought that the Sunstone aided in navigation. Formed and crystalized in lava flow, Sunstone is a member of the Feldspar group of minerals and is closely related to the Moonstone. These produce two types of material. One that is cut in Cabochon or made into beads like Opal or Jade. The other is faceted like a Diamond or Sapphire.

The Cabochon and bead material exhibits a unique visual phenomenon known as "Schiller" which is caused by millions of microscopic copper platelets. These copper platelets reflect light with varying intensities depending on their concentrations. The "Schiller" phenomenon makes the stone appear to glow even when viewed from a distance. It has been suggested that Sunstone would be an excellent alternative to the Peridot as the August birthstone. When set alone or in combination with other gems, Sunstones make a fabulous addition to any collection. Until recently, Sunstone was available only in limited quantities and poor grade.

In the early 1990's, location of three different deposits in Oregon have made it possible for top-grade rough and cut stones to be readily available at competitive prices. The faceting material comes in a wide range of colors and properties, some of them being unique to the Sunstone.The Rabbit Hills material (offered here) is mainly facet-grade.