Oregon Sunstone

Where it forms, where it's found

7recorded occurrences

Source · OpenStreetMap

Chemical composition

Constituent elements: Mass composition breakdown
Element Atoms At. mass g/mol Mass g/mol Mass share
8OOxygen Oxygen 8 15.999 127.992
46.01%
14SiSilicon Silicon 2 28.085 56.170
20.19%
13AlAluminium Aluminium 2 26.982 53.964
19.40%
20CaCalcium Calcium 1 40.078 40.078
14.40%
Total 278.204 100.00%
Mass share = atoms × atomic mass ÷ molar mass × 100
From Mindat formula

Mass composition breakdown
Element	Atoms	At. mass g/mol	Mass g/mol	Mass share
8OOxygen	Oxygen	8	15.999	127.992	46.01%
14SiSilicon	Silicon	2	28.085	56.170	20.19%
13AlAluminium	Aluminium	2	26.982	53.964	19.40%
20CaCalcium	Calcium	1	40.078	40.078	14.40%
	Total	278.204	100.00%

Literature, links & citation

Citations

—(n.d.)
2017Xu, Huifang, Hill, Tina R., Konishi, Hiromi, Farfan, Gabriela (2017) Protoenstatite: A new mineral in Oregon sunstones with “watermelon” colors. American Mineralogist, 102 (10) 2146-2149 doi:10.2138/am-2017-6186DOI: 10.2138/am-2017-6186
2022Zhou, Qingchao, Wang, Chengsi, Shen, Andy-Hsitien (2022) Application of High-Temperature Copper Diffusion in Surface Recoloring of Faceted Labradorites. Minerals, 12 (8) 920 doi:10.3390/min12080920 DOI: 10.3390/min12080920
2023Jin, Shiyun, Palke, Aaron C., Renfro, Nathan D., Sun, Ziyin (2023) Special Colors and Optical Effects of Oregon Sunstone: Absorption, Scattering, Pleochroism, and Color Zoning. Gems & Gemology, 59 (3) 298-322 doi:10.5741/gems.59.3.298DOI: 10.5741/gems.59.3.298
2025Wang, Chengsi, Shen, Andy H., Heaney, Peter J., Palke, Aaron, Wang, Ke, Wang, Haiying, Kiefert, Lore (2025) Cu nanoparticle geometry as the key to bicolor behavior in Oregon sunstones: An application of LSPR theory in nanomineralogy. American Mineralogist, 110 (2). doi:10.2138/am-2023-9141DOI: 10.2138/am-2023-9141

Cite this entry

@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Oregon Sunstone — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/oregon-sunstone-27155},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}