Andesine is a silicate mineral and member of the group of minerals known as feldspars. Andesine was first noted in 1841 for an occurrence in the Marmato mine, Marmato, Cauca, Chocó Department, Colombia. The name is for the Andes due to its abundance in the andesite lavas in those mountains.
The hardness of this stone comes in at 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale so it does need to be handled with care and taken care of properly. Due to it being semi-delicate in nature, it is best not to be set into rings that you wear every day, but it is great set into earrings, pins and pendants.
The Andesine is really a stunning looking stone when you see it. It comes in a range of colors: red, honey-red, orange, yellow, champagne and green and it is a unique gemstone.
Cleaning: When it comes to cleaning jewelry pieces that have Andesine stones, they need to be cleaned very gently. You can use a homemade solution of 2 drops of mild liquid dish soap mixed with a 1/2 cup of warm tap water and use that solution with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth to clean your pieces and then towel-dry with another clean, soft cloth. Do not use harsh chemical cleaners, ultra-sonic or steam cleaning devices to clean this type of jewelry.
Storing: Store all of your Andesine jewelry pieces in a nice lined jewelry box in a single layer (not stacked onto other jewelry pieces) to keep them damage free.
Warnings: Never wear this type of jewelry while swimming, bathing, showering, cleaning or washing your hands as water and chemicals can damage the stones. Do not store this type of jewelry in extreme heat, extreme cold or in direct sunlight.
by Jasmine Yesak, Contributing Editor at ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of quality jewelry boxes, jewelry organizers and watch boxes. Jasmine is a Jewelry Enthusiast and Organization Consultant, she writes about Jewelry Care and Jewelry Storage Tips.
No comments:
Post a Comment