having the quality of adularescence; showing a milky, glowing sheen that seems to float within the stone.
From 'adularia' plus the suffix '-escent' (showing a quality or beginning to develop). This describes the optical phenomenon characteristic of certain feldspars.
Jewelers distinguish 'adularescent' moonstones from other opals and iridescent stones because the glow actually moves as you turn the stone—it's a separate optical phenomenon with its own name because it's so distinctive.
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