Description
Whenever a new gemstone is introduced to the market, it creates a lot of buzz. But there’s also the element of mystery. With the recent development of a gemstone known as Andesine, this was certainly the case.
Andesine is a red feldspar gemstone with a faint labradorescent look and greenish overtones. Andesine is a brand-new supplement on the market. It originally surfaced in 2003, yet the details of its origins were never revealed. Some speculate that this substance comes from a small deposit of natural red Andesine found in an alluvial source in Congo. Although this is theoretically feasible, it has yet to be shown. Aside from a putative natural stock from the Congo, today’s material is made in China by artificially increasing Labradorite using copper diffusion treatment.
This mineral’s chemical formula is (Ca, Na)(Al, Si)4O8, with Ca/(Ca + Na) (or percent of Anorthite) ranging from 30 to 50%.
In a summary, it’s a silicate mineral. Andesine must have a sodium/calcium ratio of 50 to 70 percent sodium and 30 to 50 percent calcium by definition.
History
Andesine was firstly discovered at the Marmato mine in Marmato, Cauca, Chocó Department, Colombia, in 1841. Because of the prevalence of andesite lavas in those mountains, the name is given to the Andes.
The term ‘andesine’ was first used to describe red and green gemstones in the early 2000s. Following considerable debate, it was determined that these jewels had been artificially dyed.
Andesine Sources
Andesine has been found in a variety of locations, including California, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Colombia, Argentina, Greenland, Norway, France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, India, and Japan.
Andesine Geological Properties
Andesine, a feldspar mineral, is plagioclase with a triclinic crystal structure. All plagioclase members are composed of different amounts of albite (sodium aluminum silicate) and anorthite. Andesine is composed of 50-70 percent albite and the remainder anorthite, whereas labradorite is composed of 50-70 percent anorthite and the remainder alibite. Andesine is said to have originated in the Congo, although it has been exported from China, Mongolia, Tibet, and South India. Many andesine specimens are really labradorite gemstones that have been artificially altered. The red color is created by copper diffusion.
| Chemical Composition | (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)4O8 |
| Mineral Information | Plagioclase feldspar |
| Color | Red, green, yellow, orange, pink, multicolored |
| Hardness | 6 to 6-1/2 (Mohs) |
| Fracture | Uneven to conchoidal |
| Luster | Vitreous (Glassy) |
Uses of Andesine
Andesine is most commonly utilized as a gemstone. Previously, this gemstone was said to be superior when left untreated. Heat treatment, on the other hand, is now widely employed to prepare this material and bring out its real color. The gemstone is also utilized in engraving and works of art such as beautiful boxes. This stone is also used in ceramics, as well as tiles, stones, and bricks. Sunstone, a natural reddish feldspar gem, should not be confused with andesine. To encourage higher pricing, certain Andesine diamonds are purposefully mislabeled as Oregon Sunstone. The glitter effect or aventurescence of sunstone easily distinguishes it. Andesine is tougher than the red gemstones Ruby, Spinel, and Rubellite Tourmaline.
