Description
The mineral labradorite is a calcium-sodium-aluminum tectosilicate with the chemical formula (Ca,Na)(Si,Al)4O8. It belongs to the feldspars. Colorless, white, gray, or light green labradorite has a vitreous luster, a white streak color, perfect cleavage along crystal plane [001], and good cleavage along [010]. The average density is 2.69 and the hardness is 7. The crystal system is triclinic, and the mineral is neither radioactive nor magnetic. The characteristic play of colors, called labradorization, is caused by light refracting on microscopic crystals of various dark minerals that lie on the cleavage planes. Labradorite usually occurs amorphous or granular; the mineral rarely, if ever, forms crystals. Of the gemstones that exhibit this play of colors, labradorite is undoubtedly the best-known. When the stone is cut carefully, the play of colors is even more pronounced. But even on the rough fragments, the beautiful labradorization is often visible. Few minerals change color as dramatically as labradorite. The mineral labradorite's name derives from the Labrador Peninsula in Canada, where it was first described. The stone was discovered in 1780 on the east coast of the Labrador Peninsula by a priest and named after the island. He found a large number of boulders with a striking gray color that, when turned, changed to dark blue and green shades. This discovery aroused great interest among scientists of the time, and it was determined that these were soda feldspars, or plagioclase. Labradorite is a common feldspar in metamorphic and igneous rocks such as pegmatite. It is part of the plagioclase series (albite-anorthite). The type locality of labradorite is located on Canada's Labrador Peninsula. Deposits are also found in Australia, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia, the United States and Finland.
The most beautiful minerals, fossils, and gemstones from Madagascar. Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar and formerly known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation consists of the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world) and numerous smaller outlying islands. It is a renowned diving and swimming destination and is famous for its high-quality gemstones mined from its soil and rocks. We at Timmersgems are proud to say that we are the second-largest importer of Madagascan gemstones in Europe, just behind a French company. Every year, we fill at least three large containers with the finest gemstones, minerals, and buffalo horns. If you take a look in our webshop and showroom, you will find a wide range of labradorite, amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, and many other varieties. We do business with 17 small family businesses on the island. This way, we can guarantee that you will find the best and most beautiful gemstones and minerals. We have also supported these families since the beginning of our business 35 years ago. We have lost our hearts to the island, its people, and its products. It is a wonderful thing to visit the island every year and find the best stones and minerals for you. Madagascar's natural resources include a range of unprocessed agricultural products and minerals, including raffia, fishing, and forestry, and are a mainstay of the economy. Madagascar is one of the world's leading suppliers of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang. Other important agricultural resources include coffee, lychees, and shrimp. Important mineral resources include various types of precious and semi-precious stones, and Madagascar currently provides half of the world's supply of sapphires, which were discovered near Ilakaka in the late 1990s. The island also has one of the largest reserves of ilmenite (titanium ore), as well as significant reserves of chromite, coal, iron, cobalt, copper, and nickel. Several major projects are underway in the mining, oil, and gas sectors, and these are expected to provide a significant boost to the Madagascan economy. These include projects such as Rio Tinto's ilmenite and zircon mining of heavy mineral sands near Tolanaro. Madagascar is a very poor country with abundant flora and fauna. In Madagascar, you can encounter 400 plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. The minerals blue celestite, labradorite, and polychrome and ocean jasper are also found only in Madagascar.
