Mineral Minute Episode 2 – Amazonite

Mineral Minute Episode 2 – Amazonite

Today’s mineral: Amazonite.

Amazonite is a pale greenish-blue to deep blue-green variety of microcline Feldspar.

Amazonite has a hardness of 6-6.5, cleavage is perfect in one direction and good in a another, a white streak, and a glassy luster. The origin of this mineral’s color is debated, but it has been attributed to lead and water in the crystal lattice.

It is probably named after the Amazon River, even though large deposits have never been found near there.

Amazonite is commonly found as large crystals with white streaks and is often associated with smoky quartz, especially in the U.S. There are large deposits in Russia, Burma, India, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Brazil, and the United States.

Here in the U.S., Amazonite can be collected at the:
Morefield and Rutherford mines in Amelia county, Virginia.
Along Gold Camp Road, near Colorado Springs, Colorado.
At Crystal Park, near Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Along Barr Trail, on Pikes Peak, Colorado.
And in Devils Head, south of Denver, Colorado.

Here is a paper which seeks to confirm that it is LEAD that is responsible for the bluish-green hue of Amazonite:
http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM70/AM70_794.pdf

Visit our blog:
http://rockhounding-trips.blogspot.com/

For great Rockhounding gifts and clothing, visit our Rockhounding USA Store:
http://www.cafepress.com/rockhoundingusa