Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Labradorite, I love the glow!

Labradorite can produce a colorful play of light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The usually intense colors range from the typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. Some rare specimens display all these colors simultaneously. (scientific explanation below picture for those not bored to tears by this first paragraph).

With jewelry, it's all about color and flash. This stone has it all. Below are some pieces I made recently. I've included some Blue Topaz accent stones in some of the pieces. I love this combination.
More Views:
A  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698891/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
B  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
D  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698398/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-pendant
E  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
C and F are sold


The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in.

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

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