Sunstone Plagioclase Feldspar From Ethiopia

Afar region in Ethiopia is becoming an important source for a new type of copper-bearing sunstone feldspar. I hope there will be steady supply and demand for this material in the gem market. Copper-bearing sunstones from different sources are visually indistinguishable from one another. Accurate trace element chemical analysis obtained by methods such as LA-ICP-MS, XRF or electron microprobe is critical to separating Ethiopian, Oregon, and copper-bearing feldspar with unknown color origin.

Useful link:
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/spring-2020-gemnews-sunstone-plagioclase-feldspar-from-ethiopia