AllMineralsRock
Moonstone Vs. Tourmaline
Moonstone is a gemstone composed of sodium potassium aluminium silicate.[1] Tourmaline is a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is boron silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Moonstone and Tourmaline
For a quick recap of the differences moonstone and tourmaline:- In terms of crystallography, moonstone is monoclinic while tourmaline can be hexagonal or trigonal.
- For chemical formulas, moonstone can be (Na or K)AlSi3O8 while tourmaline can be (Ca, Al, B)6O18(OH, Cr, F)4, Fe, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn)3(Al, Na)(Al or V)6(BO3)3(Si.
- While both moonstone and tourmaline can be vitreous, in terms of luster, moonstone can be pearly.
- While both moonstone and tourmaline can be commonly red, moonstone is often blue, brown, colorless, gray, green, orange, pink, purple, white or yellow.
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Moonstone's hardness is lower than tourmaline - moonstone ranges from 6 to 6.5 and tourmaline ranges from 7 to 7.5 on the Moh's scale.
- Moonstone can be scratched by quartz (7) while tourmaline can not be.
- Moonstone's specific gravity is lower than tourmaline - moonstone ranges from 2.56 to 2.59 and tourmaline ranges from 2.82 to 3.9.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Moonstone and Tourmaline
The similarities of moonstone and tourmaline include:- Moonstone and tourmaline both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
- Moonstone and tourmaline both streak white.
- Moonstone's rarity is similar to tourmaline.
Summary of Moonstone
Moonstone is a type of feldspar mineral that is known for its iridescent sheen, which gives it the appearance of a glowing moon. This mineral is typically white or pale in color, but it can also come in shades of gray, peach, and blue. One of the most distinctive features of moonstone is its adularescence, which is the shimmering effect caused by light reflecting off the layers of the stone. Moonstone is commonly used in jewelry and is a popular gemstone due to its unique appearance.Summary of Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a mineral that belongs to the silicate group and is known for its unique crystal structure and the wide range of colors it comes in. It is a complex mineral that contains boron, aluminum, and other elements. Tourmaline is found in many different parts of the world, including Brazil, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States. The mineral can be identified by its prismatic crystal habit, which means that it has a long, column-like shape with flat faces on either end.Table Comparison of Moonstone vs Tourmaline
| Moonstone (src) | Tourmaline (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | (Na,K)AlSi3O8 | (Ca,K,Na)(Al,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn)3(Al,Cr,Fe,V)6(BO3)3(Si,Al,B)6O18(OH,F)4 |
| Chemical Composition | sodium potassium aluminium silicate | boron silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 2.56, 2.59 | 2.82, 3.9 |
| Hardness | 6, 6.5 | 7, 7.5 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | monoclinic | hexagonal, trigonal |
| Refractive Index | 1.518, 1.518, 1.52, 1.524, 1.525, 1.525 | 1.603, 1.82 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: blue, gray, pink, brown, green, white, orange, purple, yellow, colorless, red |
common: red sometimes: blue, black less common: gray, pink, brown, green, white, orange, purple, violet, yellow, colorless, multicolor |
| Fracture | conchoidal, uneven | conchoidal, uneven |