Sunstone (gem)

Sunstone is a feldspar gem, closely related to moonstone, and more properly known as oligoclase. Sunstone can be colorless or faintly greenish and of facet grade, but most common by far is its softer (cabochon) variety. This rarely yields gemstones more than three-quarters of an inch (2 centimeters) in diameter, and has bright red or orange spangles (minute crystals) suspended in a nearly colorless background in a parallel fashion, giving the whole a rich golden or reddish brown color. A typical specimen has a base value of 10gp.