Event Title
Amazonite: History, Properties, Occurrences, and Uses
Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
1-5-2014 1:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 2:00 PM
Project Type
Poster
Description
Amazonite is a variation of the mineral microcline. A member of the potassium feldspar group, Amazonite is a biaxial mineral belonging to the triclinic crystal system. Microcline was first discovered in 1830 by Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt. He later discovered a type locality of a green microcline along the banks of the Amazon River which he aptly named Amazonite. Amazonite can be found worldwide, though most notably in the Ural Mountains, Norway, the Malagasy Republic, and the United States (Pikes Peak, Colorado and Amelia Courthouse, Virginia). Amazonite is green in color, a result of lead (Pb) being present in the mineral. It is usually polished and then used as a gemstone in jewelry as well as for decorative objects. Industrially, microcline is used in the production of porcelain as well as glass.
Faculty Sponsor
Tasha Dunn
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Geology Dept.
CLAS Field of Study
Natural Sciences
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
462
Amazonite: History, Properties, Occurrences, and Uses
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Amazonite is a variation of the mineral microcline. A member of the potassium feldspar group, Amazonite is a biaxial mineral belonging to the triclinic crystal system. Microcline was first discovered in 1830 by Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt. He later discovered a type locality of a green microcline along the banks of the Amazon River which he aptly named Amazonite. Amazonite can be found worldwide, though most notably in the Ural Mountains, Norway, the Malagasy Republic, and the United States (Pikes Peak, Colorado and Amelia Courthouse, Virginia). Amazonite is green in color, a result of lead (Pb) being present in the mineral. It is usually polished and then used as a gemstone in jewelry as well as for decorative objects. Industrially, microcline is used in the production of porcelain as well as glass.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/360