Oregon Sunstone 17.1 Ct, CORE Cutter, 22.2mm, Rough w/ Subtle Schiller, Gemstone

Description: A large, thick core Oregon Sunstone with both clear and schiller tones; an excellent faceting specimen. Personally collected at the Spectrum Mine in Rabbit Basin, Oregon, home of the inimitable Oregon sunstone. Dimensions 17.15 carats, 22.2 x 16 x 10.2 mm Specimen is untreated, dry, and photographed without enhancements to reveal its authentic state. As a fellow collector, I respect your need to see stones as realistically as possible.* * If you wish to see more photos or have questions about inclusions, defects, faceting potential, etc., please message me before bidding. I endeavor to respond to all inquiries within 12-24 hours. About Oregon Sunstone Oregon sunstone is mined from shallow pits in Lake and Harney counties, where it formed in lava flows millions of years ago. Native Americans valued sunstone nuggets, trading them across western America and using them in Medicine Wheel ceremonies. Sunstone has been found in burial sites and sacred bundles. Unlike many crystals which form at low temperatures, close to the surface, Sunstones formed deep in the belly of the earth in a basalt flow (think Hawaii) and erupted fully formed, flowing across the floor of Rabbit Basin, deep in the Oregon desert. Dazzling sparkles will draw you into the stone and hold you there, pondering the marvel of the tiny metallic copper platelets dancing before you. The brittle, " crumble-cake"basalt matrix where colored, dichroic, and schiller stones are found lies 1-4 feet below the desert pavement, making both amateur and professional collectors dig for the best gemstones. Several mines operate in the area--including Spectrum and Dust Devil--and charge by the day or by the haul. Collectors also have access to the Public Sunstone Collecting Area, where clear, yellow, and golden sunstones can be found littering the desert floor. Oregon sunstone is different than other deposits of sunstone found throughout the world because of the copper and aluminum particles suspended in the crystal structure giving it not only unique copper and aluminum "schillers" or a metallic shimmer within the stone, but wild colors like rich cherry red, teal green and on rare occasion, purple. Sunstone is a variety of labradorite, a feldspar gem best known for its schiller or mesmerizing iridescent luster within. While other sunstones contain hematite or goethite, Oregon sunstones are special in that they contain copper crystals. This gives them the shimmering effect known as aventurescence. My Commitment to You Every sunstone I sell is a specimen that I have personally collected on one of my trips to Rabbit Basin, situation in the high desert plains of south central Oregon. I both dig in the areas mines, and collect in the public collection area. While I am a passionate collector, I am not a jeweler or professional gemologist. Thus, I rely on communication and feedback from customers and viewers: If you see any inaccurate or incorrect information in my listings, please do let me know. I am learning and growing in my understanding of this gorgeous gemstone, which was named the official Oregon State Gemstone in 1987. Rabbit Basin is a remote, high desert area at approximately 4,000 feet with low relief, volcanic ridges, sand dunes, and alkaline lakes. The basin is located in Warner Valley, about 25 miles north of Plush and three hours south of Burns. I highly recommend that every sunstone enthusiast make the long, dusty trip to Rabbit Basin at least once in their lifetime. It is an experience not to be missed! Both Spectrum Mine and Dust Devil Mine offer belt runs that allow the less ambulatory to enjoy the thrill of acquiring sunstones right from the source. Oregon Sunstone Chemical Composition Chemical formula: (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)2Si2O8 Mohs hardness: 6.5 to 7 Color: Yellowish-brown, reddish-orange, bluish-green to colorless with copper schiller Crystal structure: Triclinic Luster: Vitreous Transparency: Translucent to translucent Refractive index: 1.56 to 1.58 Birefringence: 0.009 Density: 2.62 to 2.72 Cleavage: Perfect Fracture: Splintery Tenacity: Brittle Streak: White Luminescence: Fluorescent (Reddish-purple in UV) Pleochroism: Weak or absent

Price: 17.15 USD

Location: Carlsbad, California

End Time: 2025-01-03T18:17:11.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD