The Different Types Of Moonstones And What They All Look Like

By Dr. Keith Jackson - Geology PhD

| Updated

The Different Types Of Moonstones And What They All Look Like

By Dr. Keith Jackson - Geology PhD

Updated

Moonstones are beautiful gemstones that have mesmerized people for centuries with their ethereal beauty and unique optical phenomena. These alluring gems belong to the feldspar mineral family.

Known for their mysterious adularescence, moonstones get their name from how much their shiny surface looks like the moon’s soft light. When the stone is moved, the light plays across its surface in an enchanting dance of bright colors that seem to float.

Moonstones continue to charm people who like jewelry and seek a spiritual connection. This makes them a timeless and cherished addition to the world of gemstones.

The 7 Different Types Of Moonstone And What They Look Like

There are different kinds of moonstones, each with unique beauty and optical effects. Each kind of moonstone has appeal and place in the world of jewelry and gemstones.

Blue Moonstone

A stunning blue moonstone cabochon gemstone
Blue moonstone photo provided by Crystals and Jewelry

Blue moonstones is a beautiful stone with a bluish sheen that looks like moonlight on water floating across its surface. The colors change in fascinating ways when the gem is moved in the light.

It has been admired for centuries for its ethereal beauty and the belief that it has metaphysical properties. It’s thought to have properties that make you more intuitive, help you keep your emotions in check, and feel more connected to the moon’s cycles.

Designers of elegant and bohemian jewelry use this stone to show its beautiful adultery. The soothing energy of the stone makes it very popular.

Blue moonstone continues to enchant gem enthusiasts and spiritual seekers, making it a cherished and sought-after addition to the world of gemstones.

Where you can find Blue Moonstone

Most blue moonstones are found in places with many geological deposits, like Sri Lanka, India, and the Swiss Alps. In Sri Lanka, they are called “Ceylon moonstones,” they are both beautiful and important culturally.

If you’re curious how much each type of moonstone is worth, we’ve created a guide for you.

Cat’s Eye Moonstone

A gorgeous cat's eye moonstone
Cat’s eye moonstone photo provided by and available for purchase at IGMGEMTreasures

Cat’s Eye Moonstone is a type of moonstone known for its unique chatoyancy, which resembles the slit eye of a cat. This optical effect shows a bright band of light that moves across the stone’s surface, making it look like a cat’s eye.

The effect is caused by mineral fibers in the feldspar that look like needles and interact with light to make this striking effect. Its chatoyancy gives the gem depth and interest, making it a favorite among jewelry designers and people who like gems.

Cat’s Eye Moonstone is used in rings, pendants, and bracelets to show off its enchanting effect. It’s often set in designs that are both elegant and mysterious. It boosts intuition and protects the person who wears it. It continues to fascinate people who like the magic and mystery of the gemstone.

Where you can find Cat’s Eye Moonstone

Cat’s Eye Moonstone is usually found in places like Sri Lanka, India, and Madagascar. This is because these places have good geological conditions. You can also find out if cat’s eye moonstones are in areas where you can rockhound near you.

Green Moonstone

A tiny cute green moonstone pebble
Green moonstone photo provided by Madagascan Direct

Green Moonstone is a beautiful moonstone that stands out because of its greenish color. Like other moonstones, it has adularescence, a lovely play of light that makes the stone glow softly.

The feldspar mineral is green because it has small amounts of trace elements like chromium or iron.

Green moonstone has cultural and spiritual meanings. It’s thought to help people heal emotionally, improve their intuition, and feel more connected to nature. Because of this, it has been loved and respected for hundreds of years, making it popular among gem collectors.

Jewelry designers often use it to make elegant and mysterious pieces that show off the stone’s beautiful green color and adularesence.

Where you can find Green Moonstone

Green moonstone is usually found in places like India, Madagascar, and Tanzania, which have good geological conditions to create them.

India is known for having high-quality green moonstones highly valued for their rich color and beautiful adularescence.

Pink Moonstone

A pretty pink moonstone with streaks of brown hues
Pink moonstone photo provided by The Gaian Crystals

The pink color in moonstones is attributed to trace elements within the feldspar mineral. Depending on the quality of the stone and the light, the color can range from a soft blush to a bright coral.

Aside from its beauty, pink moonstone is thought to have metaphysical properties related to emotional balance, love, and compassion. This makes it a treasured and meaningful gemstone for those who wear and admire it.

Pink moonstone has been admired for centuries for its calm beauty and what some people believe to be its magical powers. Jewelry designers often use this gemstone to make beautiful pieces like rings, necklaces, and earrings that show off their beautiful pink color.

It’s a favorite among gem collectors and people looking for beautiful and spiritually significant stones because of its mysterious appeal and gentle energy.

Where you can find Pink Moonstone

Pink Moonstone is usually found in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, geologically rich places where it’s easy to find.

India, in particular, is known for making high-quality pink moonstones that come in a beautiful range of pink colors, from light pastels to brighter shades.

If you’re into crystal hunting, you can increase your chances of finding these precious pieces.

Rainbow Moonstone

An iridescent tumbled rainbow moonstone
Rainbow moonstone photo provided by and available for purchase at NEWLOOKGEMSTONE

Rainbow Moonstone is a beautiful and mesmerizing gemstone known for its stunning luminescence display, which looks like a bright rainbow dancing across its surface. It’s often made into beautiful jewelry like rings, necklaces, and earrings so that the fascinating play of colors can be seen and admired.

It also has spiritual and metaphysical properties. It’s thought to improve intuition, keep emotions in check, and help people feel more connected to the divine feminine energy.

Its magical appeal draws in and pleases people who appreciate it. Rainbow moonstone’s different beautiful colors and mysterious meanings continue to charm and inspire people who are interested in the mystery of gemstones.

Where you can find Rainbow Moonstone

Rainbow Moonstone is commonly found in several countries, with India, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar as this enchanting gemstone’s primary source. These areas are known for having rich geological conditions, which helps them make high-quality rainbow moonstones.

Star Moonstone

A dazzling gray star moonstone
Star moonstone photo provided by Gem Fame

Star Moonstone, also called Starry Moonstone or Asterism Moonstone, is a rare and beautiful type of moonstone. It stands out because of a fascinating optical effect called asterism.

When exposed to direct light, this enchanting gemstone exhibits a distinct star-like pattern on its surface, reminiscent of stars twinkling in the night sky. The asterism effect is caused by needle-like inclusions of minerals, such as rutile or hematite, which reflect light in a way that forms the striking star-shaped pattern.

It’s often cut into cabochon shapes to show off the beautiful asterism, and it’s used to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry like rings, pendants, and brooches for people who want to wear the magical beauty of the stars on their bodies.

Star Moonstone continues to fascinate and please gem lovers and jewelry experts worldwide with its heavenly beauty and charm.

Where you can find Star Moonstone

Star Moonstone is a relatively rare gemstone and is not as commonly found as other moonstones. However, some primary sources for Star Moonstone include India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Madagascar.

White Moonstone

An elegant white moonstone with a black patch of mineral
White moonstone photo provided by Resonate Crystals

White moonstone is a beautiful stone known for its milky white color and mesmerizing effect called adularescence. This unusual phenomenon makes the stone’s surface glow and plays with light in a way that looks like the moonlight dancing on water.

Its calming energy and spiritual meaning have been valued for centuries. It’s thought to help balance your emotions, sharpen your intuition, and bring you closer to the divine feminine energy.

Jewelry designers often use white moonstone to make magical and elegant pieces that let the stone’s glow take center stage. White moonstone continues to enchant and draw in people who love the beauty and magic of gemstones because of it unique look and metaphysical properties.

Where you can find White Moonstone

White moonstones can be found in parts of the world where the geological conditions are right for them to form. But India, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar remain the world’s primary sources of high-quality White Moonstones.

You can also check out if there are locations where gem mining can be done near your area.

About Dr. Keith Jackson - Geology PhD

Keith Jackson is an avid rockhound who is constantly exploring new sites to expand his collection. He has worked as a professional Geologist for over 20 years and holds a PhD in Geology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Masters Degree in Geology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Bachelors Degree in Geology from the University of Connecticut.

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