Confetti Sunstone from Mount Riddock, Harts Range, Northern Territory
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Confetti Sunstone is a distinctive feldspar variety notable for aventurescence, an optical effect produced by reflective inclusions within the crystal. In 2025, specimens identified as Confetti Sunstone were mined by Crystal World founder and geologist Tom Kapitany at Mount Riddock in the Harts Range, Northern Territory, Australia. This locality sits within a broader mineral-rich province historically and contemporaneously active for exploration and collection.
Geological Context
The Harts Range forms part of the Central Australian geological province, characterised by Proterozoic metamorphic rocks and granitic intrusions. Mount Riddock lies within this mineral-rich terrain, where tectonic activity and metamorphism created favourable conditions for feldspar crystallisation. Confetti Sunstone occurs in pegmatitic veins and feldspathic schists, commonly associated with quartz and mica.
Regional metamorphism in the Harts Range reached granulite facies during the Proterozoic. Subsequent feldspar recrystallisation under high-temperature conditions, followed by retrograde metamorphism, may have facilitated the incorporation of metallic inclusions. These geological processes provide a framework for understanding the aventurescence of Confetti Sunstone and strengthen its mineralogical context.
Confetti Sunstone belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group, typically labradorite or oligoclase. Its defining feature is the presence of plate-like inclusions of hematite, copper, or goethite, which scatter light to produce iridescent flashes resembling confetti. These inclusions are aligned along crystallographic planes, enhancing the aventurescence effect.
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Colour: pale yellow to reddish-orange, with multicoloured flashes
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Transparency: translucent to semi-transparent
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Hardness: 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale
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Specific gravity: approximately 2.65
Optical Properties
Aventurescence in Confetti Sunstone is caused by thin metallic inclusions that reflect and refract incident light. Unlike Rainbow Lattice Sunstone- also Australian, which is distinguished by iridescent lattice-like inclusions of hematite and magnetite, the Confetti variety shows a more irregular distribution of inclusions, producing a distinctive multicoloured sparkle. This optical phenomenon is highly valued in lapidary work, as it enhances the gem’s aesthetic appeal.
Mining and Collection
In 2025, Tom conducted fieldwork at Mount Riddock, recovering Confetti Sunstone specimens from shallow pegmatitic deposits. The discovery highlights the continuing role of individual collectors and geologists in documenting Australia’s mineral diversity.
The occurrence of Confetti Sunstone in the Harts Range provides insights into the geochemical conditions required for aventurescent feldspar formation. The inclusions suggest episodes of hydrothermal activity and iron-rich fluid infiltration during crystallisation. Studying these specimens contributes to a broader understanding of feldspar mineralogy and regional metamorphic processes.
Applications
Confetti Sunstone is valued both scientifically and commercially. In gemmology, it is cut into cabochons or faceted stones to maximise aventurescence. In mineralogical research, it serves as a case study for inclusion-driven optical phenomena. Its rarity and locality-specific occurrence make it a sought-after specimen for collectors worldwide.
The 2025 discovery of Confetti Sunstone at Mount Riddock by Tom underscores the mineralogical richness of the Harts Range. Combining aesthetic beauty with scientific interest, these feldspar specimens exemplify the interplay between geology, mineralogy, and human exploration in Australia’s Northern Territory.
References
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https://www.mindat.org/loc-18789.html
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https://discoveryalert.com.au/rare-earth-riches-frontier-minerals-mineralisation/
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https://hotcopper.com.au/news/asx-news/151624/new-frontier-dives-into-heavy-rare-earths-market-at-harts-range/
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https://mining.com.au/new-frontier-eyes-high-priority-harts-range-drill-targets/