70 MOONSTONE. 
colours, according to the position with respect to the light in 
which it is held. 
The original discovery of this singular mineral was 
by the Moravian missionaries, on the island of St. 
Paul, near the coast of Labrador ; but it has since been 
found in various parts of Norway and Siberia. Persons 
who have passed in boats along the rivers of Labrador, 
have described the extremely brilliant and beautiful ap- 
pearance which the rocks of this substance frequently 
exhibit in shallow places, at the bottom of the water. 
The visitors of the late Leverian Museum will, no doubt, 
recollect a remarkably fine mass of Labrador felspar, 
the surface of which was polished, and exhibited some 
of the most splendid and beautiful colours that can 
be imagined. It was considered to have been the most 
capital specimen that was ever brought to England. 
This mineral, on account of its hardness, its bril- 
liancy, and its capability of receiving a high polish, 
is in considerable estimation among lapidaries for dif- 
ferent kinds of ornamental work, particularly for the 
tops and bottoms of snuff-boxes, for brooches, and 
necklaces. 
1 13. MOONSTONE, or ADULAR1A, is the purest kind 
of felspar that is known ; and is considered to have the same 
relation to common felspar that rock crystal has to common, 
quartz. Its colour is white, sometimes with a shade of yellow, 
red, or green. 
The translucent varieties of this stone, when viewed 
in a certain direction, sometimes exhibit a pearly and 
silvery play of colour. These are valued by jewellers, 
who cut them into a semi-globular form, and sell them 
under the name of moonstone. Those specimens are 
considered most estimable which, when cut in a very 
low oval, present the silvery spot in the centre of the 
stone. They are generally used for rings and brooches ; 
and when set round with diamonds, their pearly lustre 
exhibits a striking and agreeable contrast with the bril- 
liancy of that gem. 
