PDS-G-02 Origin: India Grade: AA Dimensions: Approximately 30-40mm Weight: Approximately 20 to 30g Origin: India Grade: AA = very high Indian sunstone pebble of 30-40mm Colors and patterns may vary from one stone to another. The sunstone owes its name to its incredible orange color and its very particular sparkle. This stone gives the impression of having embedded glitter. In 1801, Jean-Claude Delamétherie (1743-1817), a French naturalist, mineralogist, geologist, and paleontologist, attributed the name sunstone to this fabulous mineral in reference to the star. Its glittery sparkle and orange color can sometimes be iridescent with green or blue. This effect is due to the presence of hematite or goethite crystals on which light reflects. The sunstone has also been given the name heliolite. This name comes from the Greek helios (name of the sun god) and lithos which means stone. This stone is a variant of oligoclase (a mineral of the silicate class). Its hardness is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. The sunstone has many legends and stories. Indeed, this ancient crystal has been known for millennia. In astrology, this stone is associated with warmth, authority, the male sex, and is found in various religions. Among Buddhists, it is the stone of the god Vishnu, nicknamed "the Golden Man." In the Christian religion, it is associated with the twelve apostles of Jesus. For the Hebrews, the High Priest possesses this mineral. In Greek mythology, the sunstone symbolizes the Father. The Greeks also believed that this stone was the reincarnation of Helios, the sun god. It symbolized power, prosperity, and youth for its owner. It was also widely used in jewelry. The Viking warriors worshiped this fabulous orange stone. They attributed to it the power of eternal rest by integrating the realm of the gods named Asgard where the valiant warriors were found. In 1965, sunstones were found in the holds of a ship. According to Danish archaeologist Thorkild Ramskoi, the sunstone served as a compass during movements under cloudy skies. They positioned the heliolite in front of an eye while looking at the sky. Thus, they could determine the position of the sun and orient themselves. Over the millennia, the sunstone appears in many civilizations.