Moonstone vs Labradorite: What Is The Difference? 

Moonstone and Labradorite are two beautiful iridescent crystals that look very similar. Even though they can be confused based on looks, these two gemstones are very different. If you have one of these two crystals and can’t tell the differences between them, read this Moonstone vs Labradorite post to discover what they are, their properties, and how to tell them apart. 

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Moonstone vs Labradorite: The main differences

As you can see from the information presented above, Labradorite and Moonstone have a lot of physical properties in common. In fact, many people call Rainbow Moonstone ‘white labradorite’, which would mean that Moonstone is the same as Labradorite. However, this is not the case because their chemical composition is a little bit different. Labradorite is made from calcium sodium, while Moonstone is made of potassium sodium. This means that even though Labradorite and Moonstone have a lot in common, they are two very distinct minerals. 

What is Moonstone?

Moonstone is a variety of the feldspar group mineral consisting of orthoclase and albite. It is one of the most valuable feldspar minerals there is today. When hit with light, Moonstone reveals a beautiful play of colors also known as adularescence. The most common variety of Moonstone is Rainbow Moonstone, a stunning white mineral with an extraordinary blue sheen. 

Moonstone is commonly found throughout the world. However, the finest Moonstones are found in India, Madagascar, Brazil, and Sri Lanka. Rainbow Moonstone is found primarily in India and Madagascar. 

With a mosh hardness of 6 to 6.5, Moonstone is not a very hard stone. You should avoid putting it in water for a long period of time. High heat or sudden temperature change can also break a Moonstone crystal. 

Moonstone occurs in different colors such as peach, black, pink, or blue. The clarity of the stone ranges from transparent to translucent. The highest quality Moonstones have a blue hue and a colorless body color.

Even though it can be damaged easily, this beautiful gemstone is very popular in cabochon shapes and is often used for jewelry making.

Moonstone healing properties

Moonstone, also known as the ‘stone for new beginnings’ has always been strongly connected to the moon and its cycles. This crystal’s energy encourages you to surrender to the natural flow of life and teaches you how to let go of the things that you can’t control. 

One of the main benefits of Moonstone is that it comes in many different colors. In fact, there is a color of Moonstone for each of the major chakras. Rainbow Moonstone activates the crown and throat chakras when Peach Moonstone opens the sacral chakra. 

By encouraging tranquility and harmony, Moonstone can help you soothe emotional instability and stress. This stunning gemstone is very calming and helps you sort through your emotions so that you can understand their meaning.

Carrying or wearing Moonstone encourages strength and inner growth, making it a powerful tool for self-improvement. Moonstone is a stone that promotes hope and happiness. Wear it to bring inspiration, attract good fortune, and success in love and business matters.

Due to its association with feminine energy, Moonstone is believed to be especially powerful for women. Since it has a strong connection to the emotional body, Moonstone is a great crystal for awakening nurturing feelings of patience and wisdom. 

As a stone for fertility, Moonstone is said to balance women’s cycles and hormones to help you get pregnant. You can program your Moonstone crystal for fertility on a full moon to amplify its healing properties. 

Physically, Moonstone is often used to eliminate toxins and fluid retention. This beautiful crystal is used for PMS and is excellent for balancing the hormonal cycle. It is also particularly useful for treating problems related to the digestive system. Finally, you can use Moonstone to alleviate degenerative conditions of the liver and pancreas. 

What is Labradorite? 

Labradorite is a feldspar mineral that is often found in gabbro, norite, and basalt rocks. It contains both sodium and calcium. When the stone reflects the light, it disperses it to create a broad display of colors. This effect, also called labradorescence, occurs in the crystal’s internal structures. 

This stone was named after Labrador, a province located in Northeast Canada, where it was first identified in the 1770’s. Labradorite is so magical that the Eskimo Inuit that lived there believed that the Aurora Borealis was imprisoned within the gemstone. 

Commonly found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, Labradorite usually has a dark base color and labradorescent colors that include blue, green, yellow, orange, blue, red, and purple. 

With a mosh hardness of 6 to 6.5, Labradorite is not very hard. It is a naturally dark crystal that doesn’t fade with exposure to light. However, it is a crystal that is safe to put in water as long as you don’t soak it for long periods of time. 

Natural Labradorite can be found in many countries around the world including Poland, Norway, India, and China. The most prized specimens of Labradorite are usually found in Finland or Canada.

Labradorite is often used in jewelry, but also for home decor or crystal healing.

Labradorite healing properties

As a stone of transformation, Labradorite symbolizes the spiritual qualities of change, strength, and perseverance. 

Labradorite is a beautiful crystal that has a deep spiritual meaning. It strengthens your intuition and can stimulate your imagination. 

Also a powerful protection stone, Labradorite is good for banishing fears and insecurities. It encourages you to trust yourself and your intuition. If you are going through change, Labradorite is the perfect crystal for you. It is especially useful for those who are in the process of reinventing themselves. 

It’s an excellent tool to have in your pocket or purse to increase the flow of wisdom energy around you. Labradorite also spreads positive, energetic light and reveals the truth in any situation. It’s a great stone to have in a space where you want to increase conscious awareness. Labradorite also balances the energy of the physical body and the etheric body.

Labradorite’s iridescent hue makes it a perfect crystal for spiritual practices, especially meditation. You will learn to examine and observe your own mental and emotional processes with the powers of this stone. 

Another great benefit of Labradorite is that it is a comforting stone that opens and energies the throat and third eye chakras. It encourages spiritual enlightenment, astral travel and helps you enter into a deep meditative state. 

On a physical level, Labradorite is said to regulate your metabolism and lower blood pressure. It is also beneficial for the health of the eyes, nerves, and brain. It also helps relieve common symptoms of cold and can help treat gout and rheumatism. 

Labradorite can also be beneficial to women who have hormonal problems. It balances the hormones and relieves menstrual tension when you place the stone on your lower stomach.

Moonstone vs Labradorite: Which is better? 

Even though they look pretty similar, crystal lovers know that Moonstone and Labradorite are two very different crystals. 

Because they both come in many different colors, they don’t stimulate the same chakras. Moonstone comes in many different colors so if you’re looking for a stone that opens a particular chakra, this is the crystal for you. 

Labradorite activates the throat and third eye chakras, making it the perfect stone for intuition. Moonstone and Labradorite are life-changing crystals that can be used when you go through change, as they promote courage and hope. 

Another important thing to know is that they are compatible so you can actually use them together. If you need to change your thought patterns and the way you perceive life, you can wear Moonstone and Labradorite together to move toward your new life. This combo is also perfect for women who are feeling emotionally unbalanced. 

Labradorite is very common and cheap, while Moonstone is a little bit more expensive. High-quality Rainbow Moonstone can be a little bit difficult to find and is actually quite pricey. Labradorite and Moonstone are some of the most sought-after crystals, and they are beautiful gemstones to add to a collection. 

The big difference between the two stones is their color. Labradorite displays a wide range of colors. Rainbow Moonstone, on the other hand, displays a beautiful blue sheen. Other types of Moonstone also have a sheen but they usually display only one color. For example, peach and black Moonstone have a silver sheen. Labradorite and Moonstone both have the same MOH hardness, so you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart with a MOH hardness test. 

To be honest, it is impossible to tell which is better because everyone reacts differently to crystals and their vibrations. Some will prefer Moonstone, others will feel more connected to Labradorite. 

I can only recommend you to go to a metaphysical shop, hold the crystals in your hands and see how you feel. If you don’t have a shop near you, go online and browse different shops and crystals until you find the piece that attracts you the most. 

How to tell the difference between Moonstone and Labradorite? 

Moonstone and Labradorite look really similar by their shape and color, which makes it difficult to figure out which is which. Here are some tips on how to tell the difference between the two: 

Shape and look

Honestly, if you have a Moonstone and a specimen of Labradorite, you should have no problem identifying them just by looking at them. Both stones occur in the triclinic crystal system, meaning that all crystal faces are parallel to each other. The main difference is definitely the colors they show when hit with light. 

Labradorite is a dark grey, black crystal. It shows a multitude of wonderful colors such as yellow, green, purple, red, or blue when you look at it under the light. Moonstone, on the other hand, is usually white, peach, green, pink or blue. It also occurs in black, but unlike Labradorite, it doesn’t show a rainbow of colors under the light. Instead, it produces a silver sheen. Rainbow Moonstone is white and shows blue and rainbow colors. 

Hardness

Usually, the easiest way to know the difference between two crystals is to do a hardness test. However, Moonstone and Labradorite have the same hardness, so you won’t be able to tell them apart with this test. If you have a Moonstone or Labradorite and want to tell the difference with another stone, you can still perform the hardness test. 

A hardness test means you are testing the resistance of a material by scratching it with the point of an object of known hardness. It could be a knife blade (hardness 5 to 6.5), your fingernail (hardness 2 to 2.5), a steel file (hardness 5 to 6.5), or even a quartz crystal (hardness 7).

The test can be easily done from home. First, find a clean, scratch-free surface on your specimen. Hold the specimen firmly in one hand and scratch it with the point of objects of known hardness mentioned above. If the crystal doesn’t scratch, it can be Moonstone or Labradorite. If it does, it is something else.

Bottom line

Moonstone and Labradorite are two beautiful crystals you should definitely consider adding to your collection. Even though it can be difficult to tell them apart, they still have some main differences that make them both interesting. 

Moonstone is one of the most sought-after gemstones of the mineral world, while Labradorite is more common. They have similar properties and can definitely be used together. 

If you have a specimen and don’t know what it is, the best way to know which you have is to look at its colors. Labradorite is a dark crystal that shows different colors under the light, while Rainbow Moonstone is white with a beautiful blue sheen.

Moonstone vs Labradorite, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!