labradorescencen.
/ˌlabrədɔːˈrɛsns/, U.S. /ˌlæbrəˌdɔˈrɛs(ə)ns/ Mineralogy.
The kind of iridescence exhibited by some feldspars, esp. labradorite, caused by the existence of microscopic layers of differing chemical composition.
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the world > the earth > minerals > mineral structure or appearance > [noun] > colour or light
asterism1879
labradorescence1901
1901 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 80 ii. 320 The name glaucescence is applied to the blue schiller shown by certain felspars, as distinct from the multicoloured schiller shown by labradorite (labradorescence).
1966 R. Webster Pract. Gemmol. (ed. 4) xi. 120 Labradorite..shows iridescent flashes of colour which is referred to as interference at thin films of repeated twinning; the effect being known as labradorescence.
2014 Guardian 3 Sept. (G2 section) 21/4 ‘I want you to be able to add this to your collection!’ said the presenter,..holding up a labradorite ring. She spoke eloquently of its ‘labradorescence’, which is an actual thing—I looked it up.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1901