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Iridescence
Labradorite is iridescent when viewed from different angles. Iridescence is an optical phenomenon that displays a change in color as the angle of view changes. This iridescence is caused by lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The result of these two layers is known as a phase shift. Light reflecting back and forth between the two will bounce out different colors based on the angle from which the stone is viewed.
Mineral Family
Labradorite is a member of the plagioclase series of minerals. For a mineral to be considered Labradorite, the stone must be 50 to 70% calcium and 30 to 50% sodium. Other stones in the plagioclase family include Albite, Bytownite, Andesine and Oligoclase.
Transparency
The transparency of Labradorite ranges from almost completely transparent, in which full light can pass through, to more translucent, where some light may pass through but not all. Typically, the more transparent a stone is, the more it is worth. However, with intricate gems and minerals like Labradorite, transparency is not always a deciding factor in worth.
Twinning
Twinning is very common in Labradorite. Twinning is the effect of two crystals growing into each other. Unlike twins in gems like crystal quartz, in which two crystal shafts will grow from one, Labradorite twinning involves very thin crystal panes growing out from each other. Twinning is so common that it often causes the stacked or layered effect found in most Labradorite.