ASTERIA  , or

STAR-STONE (from Gr. do-rip, star), a name applied to such ornamental stones as exhibit when cut en cabochon a luminous star . The typical asteria is the star-sapphire, generally a bluish-grey corundum, milky or opalescent, with a star of six rays . (See SAPPHIRE.) In red corundum the stellate reflexion is less common, and hence the star-ruby occasionally found with the star-sapphire in Ceylon is among the most valued of " fancy stones." When the radiation is shown by yellow corundum, the stone is called star-topaz . ;Cymophane, or chatoyant chrysoberyl, may also be asteriatedi In all these cases the asterism is due to the reflexion of light from twin-lamellae or from fine tubular cavities or thin enclosures definitely arranged in the stone . The astrion of Pliny is believed to have been our moonstone, since it is described as a colourless stone from India having within it the appearance of a star shining with the light of the moon . All star-stones were formerly regarded with much superstition .