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Moonstone
Moonstone is a type of potassium feldspar. This gem is unique because of its luster. Moonstone contains a shimmer known as adularescence. A process of layering causes this effect in the moonstone, giving the stone an opalescent shimmer. This effect makes the light almost glide over the stone. Moonstone has a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs Scale, which indicates how scratch-proof a gem tends to be.
Orthoclase
Orthoclase is another gem that is a potassium feldspar, just like moonstone. This gem has the same hardness level on the Mohs Scale as moonstone, since they share many of the same properties. Orthoclase, however, is far more translucent than moonstone. The stone is yellow -reen in color and can be cut and shaped. Moonstone, on the other hand, tends to stay smooth and round.
Andesine Labradorite
Andesine is a plagioclases feldspar, meaning that the mineral content of the gem can include calcium or sodium. Though this gem has the same hardness on the Mohs scale as potassium feldspars like moonstone and orthoclase, it has a higher refractive index, meaning that the gems refract more light. One way to identify the gem is to look at the way the light enters it. Andesine ranges from dark to light pink in color and can be cut and shaped.
Sunstone
Sunstone is also a plagioclases feldspar. Stones in the plagioclases category tend to range in appearance and refraction between quartz and beryl. Sunstone retains a more metallic appearance than the andesine. The gem is deep pink-red in color, but an occasional mixture of copper during formation can make the stones yellow or green as well. Pure sunstone is rare and was considered a bartering item in ancient times.