Rainbow lattice sunstone was first discovered in late 1985 by Darren Arthur and Sonny Mason, on a small claim owned by Mason. The magnetite that has no alteration is black with a metallic sheen. Magnetite ( Fe 3O 4) forms black, equilateral triangles. These blades are oriented in different directions by a process known as lamellar twinning and also displays sagenitic twinning, which forms the lattice pattern. Hematite also forms as very thin blades that occur on one plane in different directions. This effect is called aventurescence or sunstone effect which gives some of the gems an orange glow. Hematite (Fe 2O 3) which are small mainly yellow to deep orange platelets which can be hexagonal shape and are generally in one plane within the feldspar. This research also discovered that the lattice patterns consist of orangey brown platelets of hematite and the black platelets consist of magnetite. It was found that the host mineral is orthoclase (Or 96Ab 4), as previously reported in the literature and the inclusions causing the aventurescence are hematite.

From 2017 to 2018, six samples of rainbow lattice sunstone were studied using electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and laser Raman spectroscopy. Initially, the study of this gemstone in 1989 concluded that the inclusions were made up of ilmenite (for the iridescence lattice and black triangles) and hematite (for the orange platelets). Rainbow lattice sunstone with hematite and magnetite equilateral triangle inclusions Lower-quality Rainbow lattice sunstone is produced at another claim about 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) away from the primary source. The primary source of this sunstone is covered by a single mining claim about 500 by 600 meters (1,600 by 2,000 ft) in size. It is an area consisting of dry plains with rocky outcrops that lies in the Harts Range north-east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Rainbow lattice sunstone is produced from a remote part of the Australian desert known as the Mud Tank Zircon Field. Sunstone refers to its physical appearance instead of its chemical composition. The iridescence lattice pattern consists of inclusions that are the result of crystallographically oriented exsolution crystals within the feldspar crystal. Rainbow lattice sunstone, also known as rainbow lattice, is a type of orthoclase feldspar that exhibits a rare combination of aventurescence, adularescence, and a distinctive iridescence lattice pattern.

Australian rainbow lattice sunstone