igneous

Larvikite

Larvikite (Anorthoclase-rich Monzonite)

Hardness: 6-6.5 on Mohs scale; Color: Dark grey to bluish-black with visible blue or silver Schiller effect (labradorescence); Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Triclinic/Monoclinic; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7

Hardness: 6-6
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified May 16, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow cooling of magma deep underground (intrusive) during the Permian period, approximately 290-300 million years ago, in the Oslo Rift region of Norway.

Uses & applications

Extensively used as high-end dimension stone for building facades, countertops, and floor tiles. It is also popular in jewelry (cabochons, beads) and as a decorative or metaphysical stone.

Geological facts

Larvikite is the national stone of Norway. Despite its similar appearance and blue flashes, it is a monzonite and not a true labradorite; the flash comes from ternary feldspars called anorthoclase.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its characteristic blue or silver shimmering flashes against a dark, coarse-grained background. It is most commonly found in the Larvik region of Norway. Can be distinguished from labradorite by its rock texture and higher feldspar content.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous