Amazonite Crystal — Teal Feldspar from the World's Great Pegmatites

Amazonite is the blue-green variety of microcline, a potassium feldspar that crystallizes in coarse-grained granite pegmatites — slow-cooling igneous bodies where large, well-formed crystals have time to develop. Its distinctive teal color, sitting somewhere between turquoise and jade, comes from trace amounts of lead combined with water bound within the crystal lattice. Mohs hardness: 6 to 6.5. The stone is named after the Amazon River, though no confirmed deposits have ever been documented there — the name attached from early trade routes long before modern mineralogy could verify sources.

The most celebrated amazonite locality is Colorado's Pikes Peak batholith, where blue-green crystals grow intergrown with smoky quartz in some of the most iconic American mineral combinations. Major polished material comes from Brazil and Madagascar, where the color tends toward deeper teal. Russia's Ilmen Mountains produced the specimens that first made amazonite famous in European collections in the 18th century. A genuine hallmark of natural material: fine white albite streaks or a subtle grid-like shimmer running through the color — exsolution lamellae that separated from the feldspar as it cooled. Dyed imitations show uniform color with no internal structure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is amazonite and where does it come from?

Amazonite is a blue-green variety of microcline feldspar (KAlSi3O8) that forms in granite pegmatites. The main commercial sources are Brazil, Madagascar, and Colorado (Pikes Peak area). Despite its name, no deposits have been confirmed along the Amazon River.

How can I tell if amazonite is real?

Natural amazonite almost always shows fine white streaks or a subtle grid pattern within the color — a texture called perthite, formed by albite lamellae that exsolved from the microcline as it cooled. Dyed imitations (often howlite or magnesite) have uniform color with no internal structure, and dye tends to concentrate in surface cracks.

How should I care for amazonite?

Amazonite sits at Mohs 6 to 6.5 and has two strong cleavage directions — so avoid drops and hard impacts. Store separately from harder minerals. Keep out of prolonged direct sunlight to prevent color fading. Clean with a soft, dry cloth.

Can amazonite go in water?

Amazonite can tolerate brief rinsing but should not be soaked for extended periods. The lead content that gives it color can leach in acidic water. For cleaning, a damp cloth followed by drying is safest.