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Amazonite (sometimes called "Amazon stone") is a green variety of Microcline Feldspar . The name is taken from that of the Amazon River , from which certain green stones were formerly obtained, but it is doubtful whether green Feldspar occurs in the Amazon area. Amazonite is a mineral of limited occurrence. Formerly it was obtained almost exclusively from the area of Miyask in the Ilmen Mountains , 50 miles southwest of Chehabinsk , Russia , where it occurs in granitic rocks. More recently, high-quality crystals have been obtained from Pike's Peak , Colorado , where it is found associated with smoky Quartz , Orthoclase , and Albite in a coarse Granite or Pegmatite . Some other localities in the United States yield amazonite, and it is also found in Pegmatite in Madagascar . Because of its bright Green colour when polished, amazonite is sometimes cut and used as a Gemstone . For many years, the source of amazonite's color was a mystery. Naturally, many people assumed the color was due to copper because Copper compounds often have blue and green colors. More recent studies suggest that the blue-green color is due to small quantities of Lead and water in the feldspar. (Hoffmeister and Rossman, 1985) See also: List Of Minerals REFERENCES |