Sunstone: meaning, origin, care and how to avoid goldstone imitations

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Sunstone is a feldspar with copper or golden sparkles. It should not be confused with goldstone, a manufactured glass often sold under its name.

Key points

Colour	Orange, reddish-orange, golden or yellow, with glittering sparkles
Mineral family	Feldspar (mainly oligoclase, sometimes orthoclase)
Mohs hardness	6 to 6.5, perfect cleavage
Optical effect	Aventurescence: sparkles from flat inclusions (copper, hematite, goethite)
Sources	Oregon (United States), Norway, Siberia, Pennsylvania, etc.
Other name	Heliolite; “aventurine feldspar”
Common confusion	Goldstone is an aventurine glass, not a sunstone
Traditional association	Solar plexus or sacral chakra, Leo, fire element

What is sunstone?

Sunstone is a feldspar from the family of moonstone and labradorite, most often oligoclase, sometimes orthoclase. Its charm lies in its glittering sparkles, scattered through the stone, which create an effect called aventurescence. These sparkles are tiny flat inclusions, aligned with the planes of the crystal: native copper (in Oregon stone), hematite or goethite elsewhere. It is sometimes called aventurine feldspar.

Its hardness is 6 to 6.5, like that of moonstone, with a clear cleavage. The best-known deposits are in Oregon (Lake and Harney counties, near Plush: it has been the state’s official gemstone since 1987), in Norway (Tvedestrand, in quartz veins), in Siberia near Lake Baikal and at other sites in the United States.

In French, the name “pierre de soleil” is sometimes given to heliolite. The name has also been used for a legendary stone of Viking navigators, said to have helped them find their way in overcast weather: some researchers have suggested it was a transparent crystal (Icelandic spar or cordierite) that could reveal the sun’s direction through polarised light. This is a debated hypothesis, with no direct link to the feldspar used in jewellery.

Traditional symbolism

Like its name, the stone evokes warmth, vitality and joy. In contemporary tradition it is associated with optimism, personal energy and good humour, ideas naturally linked with the sun, the source of light in every culture.

These are symbols, not properties. The stone has no precise ancient lapidary tradition; its current popularity comes mainly from its brilliance and warm colour, which appeal to lovers of jewellery.

Traditional correspondences

Area	Association cited	Note
Chakra	Solar plexus, sometimes sacral	Depends on the author; see the solar plexus
Element	Fire	A very common association
Sign	Leo	The Sun rules Leo; see Leo
Intention	Joy, vitality	A modern association

How to use it

As jewellery: cabochons, pendants and beads that catch the light. The sparkle shows best in a cabochon.
As decoration: a sphere or a pebble near a bright window, where the sparkles come alive.
In meditation: watch the reflections in the morning sun, a moment of visual calm.
As a pair: with moonstone, for a charming sun-and-moon couple, often given as a gift to lovers.

Care and cleansing

Cleaning: lukewarm water and mild soap, soft brush, then dry. No ultrasonic cleaners or chemical products.
Knocks: avoid them because of the cleavage. Do not store it with harder stones.
Sunlight: the stone copes with ordinary exposure without trouble; avoid extreme heat.
Salt: avoid it on mounted pieces.

Symbolic cleansing: morning sunlight or gentle smoke. See our guide.

Recognising a genuine sunstone and avoiding goldstone

Natural: sparkles of irregular sizes and distribution, variable transparency, colours from salmon to orange or gold. The glow changes with the viewing angle.
Goldstone: a manufactured glass (aventurine glass) filled with tiny copper crystals, a very uniform orange-brown with regular sparkles. According to the common account it was developed in Venice; it is sometimes sold as “sunstone”. It is glass: its surface is smooth and it is more regular. Our page on goldstone explains its history, which is respectable provided it is presented for what it is.
Treated andesine: in the early 2000s, red or green stones sold as andesine were found to have been coloured artificially by copper diffusion. Genuine red andesine from Tibet also exists.

How to choose

Look for lively but irregular sparkles, a beautiful warm colour and a clean polish. The transparent Oregon stones with a clear colour are the most sought-after and expensive; the opaque stones from Norway or India, more affordable, have plenty of charm.

A very low price for a stone with large, uniform sparkles is a sign of glass. Always ask for “natural sunstone” or “goldstone”: both are honest names. For the vocabulary, see the glossary.

Frequently asked questions

Is sunstone the same as goldstone?

No. Sunstone is a natural feldspar; goldstone is a manufactured glass containing copper crystals. They are often confused because their sparkles look alike.

Where do the sparkles in sunstone come from?

From tiny flat inclusions of copper, hematite or goethite, aligned within the feldspar. They reflect light.

Is sunstone expensive?

It depends on quality: transparent, richly coloured Oregon stones cost more, while opaque stones are affordable.

Was the Viking stone a sunstone?

It has been suggested that Viking navigators used a crystal (Icelandic spar or cordierite) to locate the sun. This is a debated hypothesis, and it is not the feldspar used in jewellery.

Can I leave sunstone in the sun?

Yes, briefly. It handles normal light, but avoid strong or prolonged heat, and knocks, because of its cleavage.