Amazonite

Egyptian amulet
MFA Acc. #: 72.1106

Description

Amazonite (green microcline)

A pale green, opaque Microcline mineral. Amazonite derives its color from traces of lead and crystalline water (Aston et al 2000). Also called Amazon stone, it was used since about 3000 BCE for decorations, amulets, vessels, beads, and as a gemstone. Ancient examples have been found in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and northern India. Amazonite was considered one of the six most precious stones in Pharaonic Egypt. It is currently quarried in Russia and the U.S.(Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virgina).

Synonyms and Related Terms

Amazon stone; amazonstone; mother of emerald; green feldspar; microcline; Amazonit (Deut.); amazonite (Fr., Port.); amazonita (Esp.); amazoniet (Ned.)

FTIR (PMA)

IR-ATR (RRUFF)

Raman (RRUFF)

Raman (RASMIN)

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Color = colorless, white, pale-yellow, brick-red, or green
• Cleavage = perfect in one direction and good in another
• Fracture = uneven, splintery
• Luster = vitreous
• Streak = white
• Fluorescence = generally inert; may show weak yellowish green in LW
• Pleochroism = absent

Composition	K2O-Al2O3-6SiO2
Mohs Hardness	6.0-6.5
Density	2.56-2.58 g/ml
Refractive index	1.522- 1.530
Birefringence	undetectable to 0.008

Comparisons

Properties of Gemstones

Resources and Citations

• Gem Identification Lab Manual, Gemological Institute of America, 2016.
• B.Aston, J.Harrell, I.Shaw, "Stone" in Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, P.Nicholson, I.Shaw (eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 45-46.
• Wikipedia: Amazonite (Accessed Sept. 10, 2005 and Dec 2022)
• Mineralogy Database: Microcline
• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 316
• Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982
• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
• Frank A. Lent, Trade names and Descriptions of Marbles, Limestones, Sandstones, Granites and Other Building Stones Quarried in the United States Canada and other Countries., Stone Publishing Co, New York, 1925
• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
• C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979
• Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942
• George Savage, Art and Antique Restorer's Handbook, Rockliff Publishing Corp, London, 1954