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Birthstones For June
Those persons with a June birthdate have a choice of three birthstones.
One is Alexandrite, a variety of chrysoberyl, which is a composition of
oxide of beryllium and aluminum, having a glassy luster and a hardness of
8.5 Mohs scale. The color of Alexandrite is red-green, becoming a purplish
red under artificial light, and fluorescent red under violet ray. Most
of the stones found are quite small; those of any size are usually in
private collections. Russia, Ceylon, Tasmania, and Brazil are the
principal sources of Alexandrite.
The very popular pearl is the second gem for a June birthstone. It is the
product of certain mollusks which secrete organic and mineral matter to
cover some irritation caused by disease, a parasite, or a foreign particle.
The important sources for natural salt-water pearls are Japan, Ceylon,
Australia, and the Americas. Fresh-water pearls are found in the mollusks
of the tributaries of the Mississippi River in the United States, and
also in streams in Scotland and China.
The third gemstone for June is also sometimes considered the birthstone for
August. It is the moonstone, properly a variety of feldspar, usually
orthoclase. It is usually a milky-white, translucent stone which has a
billowy, bluish light which sweeps across the surface of the stone as it
is moved about. The moonstone is one of the lowest priced gems on today's
market, and much less expensive than the other two gems. Ceylon, Burma,
Madagascar, West Australia, and Switzerland are important foreign sources,
and Colorado, Virginia, and California are sources in the United States.
-- by Axel E. Janson
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