Amazonite (Madagascar)
Wise Communication
Have good boundaries and healthy relationships.
Cultivate balance and let go of trauma.
Be smart, intuitive, compassionate and loving.
Know who you are and stand in your power.
Let Amazonite inspire you to speak with a brave heart!
Healing Properties of Amazonite
Spiritual: Amazonite is a stone of courage and shatters the lies of “victim mentality.” It empowers us to be the master of our own fate and reminds us that we have the power to do great things. It helps us to heal from past pain and to use it as fuel to move us forward into a healthier and happier future. Amazonite reminds us of who we truly are and helps us to move beyond our fears of judgement or failure. It encourages us to cultivate balance and to ask ourselves if our thoughts and actions are in alignment with our true values. If they are out-of-alignment, Amazonite helps us to make appropriate changes so that we live in a way that matches our noble spirit. Amazonite is an amazing stone for feminists and celebrates the feminine aspects of courage, strength and power. With its emphasis on balance, Amazonite urges us to fight for equality in rights and opportunities. Amazonite strengthens the aura and protects us from EMF radiation, particularly cellphones and televisions. It is attuned to the Heart and Throat Chakras and linked to the astrological sign of Virgo. It is connected to the element of Water and vibrates to the number 5.
Emotional: Amazonite balances out mood extremes, so that we can spend most of our time feeling good. It encourages us to trust that “all will be well” and helps us find our way to inner and outer harmony. It is particularly good for helping us to create and maintain healthy boundaries. This usually means boundaries with other people, but it can also be used for work-life boundaries. Amazonite enhances all forms of communication, but is particularly good for encouraging timid people to speak up boldly. It encourages assertive behavior and inspires us to take on leadership roles. Amazonite helps us to trust our own opinions and to have confidence in our own competence. If other people don’t like us or agree with us, Amazonite reminds us to not worry too much about our reputation amongst the small-minded. But if there is discord between ourselves and someone we respect and admire, Amazonite encourages us to set our ego aside and consider the matter honestly. If we are in the wrong, Amazonite pushes us to acknowledge it and make proper amends.
Mental: Amazonite empowers us to make our dreams a reality and magnifies our intentions when they are spoken aloud. It helps us to know what we want out of life and to have the courage to do whatever it takes. Amazonite reminds us that having peaceful and supportive relationships generally makes it easier to achieve our goals. As such, it pushes us to swiftly resolve problems when they come up. Amazonite speeds up the intellectual process of working through emotional or interpersonal issues. It helps us to find the words to describe our feelings and instincts, and it unites our logic with our intuition. When we feel upset, Amazonite helps us to set the emotions aside and focus on problem-solving, rather than insisting that we are right or trying to prove we have been wronged. This doesn’t mean that those facts or emotions don’t matter or shouldn’t be taken into account; but rather that it usually to our own benefit if the emotional intensity is taken down a notch. Amazonite helps us to find reasonable and balanced solutions so that we have the best chance of a happy and peaceful life.
Physical: Amazonite is recommended for anyone feeling physically tense and emotionally overwhelmed. It has a calm and empowering energy that can help us to relax and is especially effective during intense or traumatic situations. Amazonite is a powerful talisman for women enduring the agony of childbirth. It helps women step into their Mother Goddess and Warrior Women power, to survive the pain and bring forth new life. Amazonite is also a comforting talisman when grief threatens to completely overwhelm us and we feel our own body shutting down in exhaustion and pain. In these moments, Amazonite can helps us to breath through the agony and to focus on taking care of our immediate physical needs, moment by moment, day after day, enduring the unendurable, until gradually we emotionally find our way back to peace. Amazonite is also recommended as a talisman for breast health, thyroid conditions and problems with the adrenal glands, especially if the issues are caused by excessive stress.
Always use wisdom when considering crystal therapies for healing.
Mineralogy of Amazonite
Mineral Family: Feldspar
Chemical Composition: K[AISi3O8]
Cleavage: Perfect
Color: Green, blue-green
Crystal System: Triclinic; prismatic
Form/Habit: Short prismatic
Fracture: Conchoidal, uneven, splintery, brittle
Gravity: 2.56-2.58
Hardness: 6-6.5
Luminescence: Green (long wave) / Red (short wave)
Luster: Vitreous, dull
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent to opaque
Location: Amazonite deposits have been found in Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, United States (Colorado and Virginia) and Vietnam.
Mineral Family: Amazonite is a rare blue-green Microcline, a type of Alkali Feldspar, which is in turn a Silicate mineral. Silicate minerals are the largest family of minerals, including more than 25% of all known minerals and 40% of all common minerals. In addition to being a major part of the Earth’s crust, Silicate minerals have also been found on the moon and in meteorites. Silicates are minerals which contain the elements Silicon (a light gray shiny metal) and Oxygen (a colorless gas). There are six main groups of Silicate minerals, and these main groups are further subdivided into secondary subdivisions, such as Quartz and Feldspar. Feldspar is a large mineral family in its own right and is subdivided into Alkali Feldspars (rich in Potassium) and Plagioclase Feldspars (rich in Calcium). The most common type of Alkali Feldspar is Microcline, which is typically white or pale yellow. Much more rarely Microcline may be blue-green, at which point it is called Amazonite and considered a semi-precious gemstone.
Formation: Amazonite is a major component of most igneous rocks, and may also be found in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. It is created when hot silica acid rich in aluminum and potassium shifts from being a gas/liquid into a solid compound. Trace particles of lead and water within the silica acid gives Amazonite its rich blue-green color, otherwise the silica acid would transform into the more common white Microcline.
Mining: Typically mined from the primary deposits which still have their original relationship with the host rock. Amazonite is a relatively rare mineral. Historically, it was mined almost exclusively in the Ilmen Mountains of Russia where it was found embedded in the granite mountains. Today it is mined alongside granite and Pegmatite in the Ilmen and Ural Mountains of Russia, as well as the Rocky Mountains in the United States. It is also mined alongside Pegmatite in Minas Geris, Brazil and in Madagascar.
Enhancements: All Amazonites on the market are natural, enhanced only through tumbling, cutting, and polishing.
Synonyms: Microcline, Amazon stone
Map courtesy of TravelBlog
Photos: Rough Amazonite, Amazonite Quarry
History of Amazonite
For most of its history, Amazonite was known merely as ‘green feldspar’. Some sources state that the name ‘Amazonite’ is reference to the color of the Amazon river and/or that green feldspar is found in the vicinity of the river. Such claims are totally inaccurate since the Amazon river typically appears brown, rather than blue-green, and green feldspar has never been found near it. Instead, the name Amazonite is a modern reference to the mythological Amazons.
European explorers in South America were told by native tribes along the Rio Negro River, a tributary of the Amazon River, that a beautiful blue-green stone came from a ‘land of women without men.’ It was further said that the women gave the stones to men that visited them. The ancient Greeks had told a similar tale in which the Amazons, a tribe of fierce warrior women, were said to carry shields decorated with a blue-green stone. Like their sisters in South America, the Greek Amazons lived without men, but took occasional male visitors as lovers and gave them gifts before sending them away. As interest in the power of crystals gained new popularity during the 18th century, these stories led to the official naming of green feldspar as ‘Amazonite.’
The earliest known reference to Amazonite, or green feldspar, is found in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a funerary text dating back to 3400 BCE. The Book of the Dead is a funerary text whose name may be more correctly translated as the Book of Emerging Forth Into The Light. It contains a series of magical spells which, if used correctly, were thought to help the souls of the dead travel safely through the Underworld. In several locations throughout the book, various amulets made of green feldspar are recommended. One such amulet, a heart scarab ring, was recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamen.
The Amazonite heart scarab amulet would be used during the vital “weighing of the heart” ceremony, the most critical moment in the soul’s journey through the Underworld. During the ceremony Osiris, the chief God of the dead, presided over the weighing of each soul’s heart against the feather of truth. If the heart was lighter then the feather, the soul was allowed to proceed into a peaceful afterlife. If the heart was heavier, the soul would be judged unworthy and utterly destroyed in the jaws of Ammit, a fierce conglomerate animal with the head of a crocodile, the front legs of a leopard, and the back legs of a hippopotamus. The Judgement of Osiris was said to be written on green feldspar. A heart scarab made of green stone, wrapped in the mummy’s bandages directly over the heart, was thus a magical talisman that could help Osiris find the heart worthy.
Amazonite is also thought to have been one of the gemstones on the breastplate of the High Priest of ancient Israel. Two different breastplates are thought to have existed. The first one, known as the Mosaic Breastplate, is describe in Exodus. It was lost during the destruction of the First Temple in 555 BCE. Amazonite is thought to have been the third of twelve stones on the Mosaic Breastplate. The second breastplate made soon after is thought to have replaced Amazonite with emerald.
Photos: Zeevgoldman, Scarab with Hawk and Sun Disc, Weighing of the Heart
Ethically Sourced Amazonite
The Miners sell directly to the Lapidary.
The Lapidary sells directly to Moonrise Crystals.
Moonrise Crystals sells directly to you.
The Supply Chain
The Supply Chain is short and clean.
The Mine and Lapidary are located in the same country.
The Mine
This Amazonite was artisanally mined in Madagascar.
The exact deposit is unknown, but most likely caused only minor environmental damage,
and would have been relatively low risk for miners.
Learn More: Ethical Mining
The Lapidary
This Amazonite was polished in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The Lapidary is owned by a woman and is a family business.
Factory workers have safe conditions and are paid fairly.
The Lapidary is also the direct-importer & sells exclusively at large gem shows.
Learn More: Ethical Lapidary
Sourcing Relationship
I first met the owner of the lapidary at the 2006 Gem and Mineral show in Tucson, Arizona. At that time I was working for a crystal shop in Utah and was at Tucson primarily as a “pack mule” to help carry all the stones. It was generally agreed by our crew that the “Madagascar” tent contained the most beautiful stones in the entire show.
In 2014, I embarked on my first buying trip for Moonrise Crystals. The company I knew of only as “Madagascar” was the one company I was most determined to find and buy from. This lapidary company only sells at a handful of major gem shows. The only time they are in the USA is for the Tucson Gem Show.
During the rest of the year, the lapidary hand polishes their stock and also does charity work in their local community. They continue to offer some of the most beautiful tumbled stones in the industry and are among my favorite suppliers.
In 2019, Moonrise Crystals and the Madagascar lapidary company joined together to financially support a rural school in Madagascar.
Safe Handling of Amazonite
Amazonite
What You’ll Receive: A 100% natural Amazonite
Selection Process: The stone I select for you will be carefully chosen for its beauty and appeal. If combined with other stones, I always take time to choose stones that look and feel good together.
Origin: Madagascar
Polishing Method: Polished by hand, one stone at a time. Each stone is unique and minor variations are what makes them beautiful.
Details:
- Color: Blue-green. Most have a silver shimmer
- Polish: Shiny and smooth
- Quality: AA
- Shape: Rounded
- Size: Average size is 1 in / 25 mm
- Transparency: Opaque
- Weight: Average weight is .9 oz / 25 g / 127 carats
Shipping: Next business day – Domestic First Class averages 3-7 days. International First Class averages 2-3 weeks.
Reviews
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Lauren C. (New Jersey) –
A glowing green moonstone! Every moonstone I’ve gotten from Julie has been incredible and this one is no exception. Thank you for all the crystal information too!
Kalinda V. (California) –
Everything was beautifully packaged and arrived in perfect condition. They are beautiful stones and I know I will cherish them. Thank you.
Camille M. (Illinois) –
Thank you! Always exceeds my expectations! Happy beyond words.
Robert L. (Hawaii) –
We purchased eight different stones, and each one is exquisite in look and feel. Very happy with both the stones as well as the ethical sourcing practices. Thanks for going that extra important step!
Megan E. (California) –
One of the larger stones sold my moonrise crystals.
Michelle V. (Georgia) –
Superbly gorgeous Amazonite, Thank you!