Mineral Species: Microcline var. Amazonite

Chemical Formula: K(AlSi3O8)

Chemical Name: Potassium Aluminium Silicate

Mineral Class: Tectosilicate

Mineral Notes: Amazonite is a very beautiful variety of the feldspar mineral Microcline. Due to attractiveness of the stone it has often been cut and polished into jewellery. Surprisingly, whilst the stone is named after the Amazon river, no deposits have ever been found in the Amazon basin or surrounding mountains. The origin of the name is therefore somewhat of a mystery. The colour is belived to be cused by chromium.

Description: A single, extremely well-formed crystal having a typical hexagonal cross-section and classic bipyramidal termination. Very strong blue-green colour characteristic of the mineral, made even more attractive by the adamantine luster.

Location: Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA.