TINY RITUALS BLOG Sunstone Meaning: Healing Properties & Everyday Uses SUMMARY Meaning: Sunstone, often associated with the Sun's radiant energy, is believed to instill joy, optimism, and courage, empowering its users to discover their true selves and their place in the world. [Hall, 283] Sunstone is a member of the Feldspar family, and is named for its warm shades of gold, orange, reds and browns that sparkle like the sun. Inclusions of Goethite or Hematite refract light between the different crystal layers and produce an iridescent effect as the stone is viewed from various angles. Sunstone is slightly softer than quartz with a hardness rating of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Its density ranges from 2.62 to 2.65 and its refractive index ranges between 1.525 and 1548. Sunstone is also known to exhibit perfect cleavage which can be a helpful distinguishing trait. Distribution Sunstone was not popular until recently. [when?] Previously the best-known locality being Tvedestrand, near Arendal, in south Norway, where masses of the sunstone occur embedded in a vein of quartz running through gneiss . Rose Quartz Sunstone Rose quartz and sunstone have never formed together beneath the surface of the Earth, however there are many enthusiasts who claim that, when paired up, rose quartz and sunstone form a perfect working relationship that unites the heart chakra with the two below it. No, sunstone is not a type of quartz. While both sunstone and quartz are minerals, they belong to different mineral groups. Quartz is a silicate mineral, while Sunstone is a type of feldspar. The difference in their mineral compositions contributes to their distinct physical and metaphysical properties. Analogous color schemes call for lemon quartz, citrine, carnelian, ruby reds and a splash of deep purple such as amethyst or tanzanite. The resulting palette is perfect for fall jewelry designs. View design inspirations featuring sunstone in the Gallery of Designs Is Sunstone A Quartz? While Sunstone may share some similarities with quartz, it is actually a distinct type of crystal known as feldspar. This beautiful stone contains a unique combination of Hematite and Goethite, which imbues it with its characteristic iridescent properties and enables it to refract light. GgVv4IJ.