This mesmerizing, manmade gemstone can be viewed as flashy or elegant, depending on how you use it. Goldstone is manmade glass with tiny copper dots visible throughout the stone. A special process is needed to create the stone's metallic gleam. Copper salts are added to brown (or whatever color) liquid glass. The mass of glass is then held at a specific temperature for a length of time, and then the entire mass is allowed to cool. As the glass cools, the salts turn into copper crystals, giving the stone that unique sparkle. Goldstone is often mistaken for sunstone, a feldspar. Goldstone reportedly originated with monks trying to make gold out of other materials (alchemy). The secret was kept for years until the Chinese, it is said, discovered how to make the gemstone. Nowadays, the best examples come from China, instead of Italy and Austria. Because of its origins in the monastery, goldstone is used frequently in religious (especially Catholic) jewelry.
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