The facts
What oregon Sunstone actually is
Oregon Sunstone is classified as labradorite (plagioclase feldspar), with the composition (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈ with metallic Cu. It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from colloidal metallic copper nanoparticles give red, pink and green; larger copper platelets give schiller, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.563–1.573. Specific gravity around 2.68–2.72. Cleavage: perfect {001}, good {010}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where oregon Sunstone comes from
Oregon Sunstone is produced at Ponderosa Mine, Harney County, Oregon, USA and Plush, Lake County, Oregon, USA.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How oregon Sunstone is treated
Natural Oregon material is untreated and the deposits are the US state gem of Oregon. Copper-diffused Chinese/Tibetan andesine-labradorite was sold in huge quantity as natural red 'sunstone' in the 2000s — a major scandal; diffusion is detectable by colour concentration at the rim under immersion. Buy with a lab report for saturated red or green stones.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What oregon Sunstone is confused with
In the trade oregon Sunstone is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Copper-diffused andesine, Goldstone glass, Spessartine or Andesine.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.563–1.573 and specific gravity 2.68–2.72 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What oregon Sunstone is used for
Demand for oregon Sunstone comes from jewellery, mineral collecting and decorative objects, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Oregon Sunstone is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, with perfect {001}, good {010} cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What oregon Sunstone costs
As a guide, oregon Sunstone trades around $20–500/ct; fine red/green dichroic material higher.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is oregon Sunstone treated, and how?
Natural Oregon material is untreated and the deposits are the US state gem of Oregon. Copper-diffused Chinese/Tibetan andesine-labradorite was sold in huge quantity as natural red 'sunstone' in the 2000s — a major scandal; diffusion is detectable by colour concentration at the rim under immersion. Buy with a lab report for saturated red or green stones.
Where does oregon Sunstone come from?
Ponderosa Mine, Harney County, Oregon, USA and Plush, Lake County, Oregon, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is oregon Sunstone hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect {001}, good {010} cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does oregon Sunstone cost?
Indicatively $20–500/ct; fine red/green dichroic material higher. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is oregon Sunstone confused with?
Most often Copper-diffused andesine, Goldstone glass, Spessartine and Andesine. A refractive index of 1.563–1.573 and a specific gravity near 2.68–2.72 separate it quickly.
What is oregon Sunstone used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for oregon sunstone?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about oregon sunstone