We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

Sunstone · Feldspar · 6 to 6.5

Sunstone

Sunstone is feldspar that glitters from within: tiny flat catch the light and flash orange, red or gold, an effect called aventurescence. Most sunstone, from India, Norway and Tanzania, is oligoclase feldspar with hematite or goethite platelets. Oregon sunstone is different: it is labradorite with native copper inside, which gives clear stones in peach, red and even green, and it has been Oregon's state gemstone since 1987. Goldstone, often sold as "sunstone" or "blue sunstone", is man-made glass with copper glitter.

From the ground to your hand

The same stone at four moments. Tap a photo of a listing to see it on Amazon.

  1. 01 In the ground (step 1 of 4)

    Sunstones picked up off the ground at the free public Sunstone Collection Area north of Plush, Oregon.

    Sunstones picked up off the ground at the free public Sunstone Collection Area north of Plush, Oregon.

    Real specimen. Photo: BLM Oregon & Washington, CC BY 2.0.

  2. 02 Cut (step 2 of 4)

    A faceted 5.8 ct Oregon sunstone from the Spectrum Mine. The colour comes from copper.

    A faceted 5.8 ct Oregon sunstone from the Spectrum Mine. The colour comes from copper.

    Real specimen. Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0.

  3. 03 Rough to own (step 3 of 4)

    About 56 g of untreated Oregon sunstone facet rough.

    About 56 g of untreated Oregon sunstone facet rough.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  4. 04 Loose (step 4 of 4)

    Tumbled Oregon sunstone from the Dust Devil Mine near Plush, 20 g in a glass bottle, mined and tumbled by the seller.

    Tumbled Oregon sunstone from the Dust Devil Mine near Plush, 20 g in a glass bottle, mined and tumbled by the seller.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

Mineral
Feldspar: oligoclase (most sunstone) or labradorite (Oregon)
Glitter from
Hematite or goethite plates; copper in Oregon sunstone
Hardness
6 to 6.5
Grown in labs?
No. Goldstone glass imitates it
Famous sources
Oregon (USA), India, Norway, Tanzania

Oregon sunstone vs Indian and African sunstone vs goldstone

Mined and lab-grown sunstone are the same mineral; this is what differs
Oregon sunstoneIndian and African sunstone
What it isLabradorite feldspar from Lake and Harney Counties, OregonOligoclase feldspar from India, Tanzania and other places
Glitter fromNative copper inclusionsHematite or goethite plates
LookOften clear and facetable, peach to red to green; some show a copper sheen (schiller)Translucent to opaque orange-brown with golden flashes
PriceTens to hundreds of dollars a carat for fine faceted red or greenInexpensive; sold as beads, spheres and tumbled stones
Watch out forRed "andesine" sunstone said to be from Congo or Tibet: much of it was pale feldspar coloured with copper in a labDyed beads

Real Oregon sunstone listings name a mine (Dust Devil, Ponderosa, Spectrum) or the Plush area, and fine faceted stones cost real money. Cheap orange "sunstone" with perfectly even glitter, or any "blue sunstone", is goldstone glass.

Treatments. Natural Oregon sunstone is not treated; GIA notes its colours are natural. Indian sunstone beads are sometimes dyed. In the 2000s much red feldspar sold as "andesine" or "sunstone" from Congo or Tibet turned out to be pale feldspar coloured by diffusing copper into it in a lab; GIA studied this material. Buy red sunstone only with a named Oregon mine. All gem treatments explained.

Where natural sunstone comes from

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (5)
  • Sunstone: Plush and Rabbit Basin, Lake County, Oregon, USA. Copper-bearing labradorite sunstone, Oregon's state gemstone. The BLM runs a free public collection area here; private mines such as Dust Devil are nearby. Position approximate.
  • Sunstone: Ponderosa mine, Harney County, Oregon, USA. The second main Oregon sunstone deposit. Position approximate.
  • Sunstone: Tvedestrand, Norway. The classic historical sunstone locality: oligoclase in a quartz vein running through gneiss.
  • Sunstone: Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, India. Source of much of the inexpensive orange sunstone used for beads, spheres and . Position approximate.
  • Sunstone: Arusha Region, Tanzania. Oligoclase sunstone with golden hematite flashes; the Smithsonian holds a 17.91 ct faceted Tanzanian sunstone. Position approximate.

How it is cut

Lab sunstone is mostly machine-cut in calibrated sizes, which is why a cut lab stone costs little more than its rough. Fine mined stones are often native-cut to keep weight, then recut by precision cutters. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.

What to buy

Checked in stock on October 10, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

Reading a gem listingGem treatments

The sunstone shop: 20 more pieces we trust

Every piece names the real stone and comes from a seller with a record, checked in stock on October 11, 2026. Photos are the listings' own; prices are rounded.

Raw and tumbledOregon sunstone facet rough, 56 g, untreatedabout $90on Amazon →Raw and tumbledOregon sunstone facet rough, 4 pieces, 34 gabout $56on Amazon →Raw and tumbled250 ctStarborn natural Oregon sunstone rough, about 250 ctabout $27on Amazon →Raw and tumbledLuckeeper natural sunstone rough, 2 lbBulk orange sunstone for tumbling.about $19on Amazon →Natural, with reportCrystalAge sunstone tumbled stone, 20 to 25 mmabout $8on Amazon →Natural, with reportJet natural sunstone tumbled stones, 100 gabout $14on Amazon →Carvings and decorNatural Indian sunstone sphere with stand, 2.2 inabout $43on Amazon →Carvings and decorAmazing Gemstone large sunstone tower, 5.5 to 6 inabout $60on Amazon →Beads116 ctNatural Oregon sunstone faceted rondelle beads, 116 ct strandabout $35on Amazon →BeadsOregon sunstone faceted round beads, peach with strong schiller, matched pair, 7 mmabout $73on Amazon →BeadsABCGEMS golden sunstone beads, 6 mm, Madagascarabout $20on Amazon →WomenChic Vida 6 mm Oregon sunstone halo ring with diamonds, 14K goldabout $540on Amazon →

Your kit for sunstone

Five tools that let you check what you bought (a loupe, a UV torch, locking tweezers, a gem box and a pocket scale), plus a turntable that spins your stone under the light the way jewellers show one. The full collector's kit.

LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeunder $20LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $10HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $15MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40

In short

Sunstone grows over millions of years in the earth, or in hours to months in a lab. Both are real sunstone; the mined stone is rare and priced for rarity, the lab stone is priced for the cost of growing it. Buy lab to wear and enjoy, check the listing names the mineral, and test it when it arrives.

See our first pick: Oregon sunstone, tumbled, Dust Devil Mine, 20 g bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Oregon sunstone and other sunstone?

Oregon sunstone is labradorite feldspar coloured by native copper, often clear enough to facet. Most other sunstone, from India, Norway or Tanzania, is oligoclase feldspar that glitters from hematite or goethite plates and is usually cut as cabochons or beads.

Is goldstone real sunstone?

No. Goldstone is glass made with copper that forms glittering crystals as it cools. It is sold as "sunstone" or "blue sunstone". It is pretty and cheap, but it is not a natural stone.

Can I dig my own Oregon sunstone?

Yes. The Bureau of Land Management runs a free public Sunstone Collection Area in Rabbit Basin, north of Plush in Lake County, Oregon. Several private mines nearby also offer fee digging.

Is sunstone good for a ring?

Gently. At 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale it scratches more easily than quartz, so a protective setting helps for daily wear. Pendants and earrings are easier.

Photo credits

  • sunstone-collection-area-37756789364.webp: BLM Oregon & Washington, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • sunstone-tertiary-spectrum-mine-oregon-usa-1.webp: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Product photos: Amazon listings, via the Amazon Product Advertising (Creators) API.

Amazon links are affiliate links (tag thegemtray-20): buying through them costs you nothing extra and supports the site. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.