mineral

Sodalite

Sodium Aluminum Silicate Chloride (Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2)

Hardness: 5.5-6.0 on Mohs scale; Color: typically royal blue to greyish blue, often with white calcite streaks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: Isometric; Cleavage: Poor/Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.27-2.33.

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in silica-poor igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites or phonolites, as well as in contact metamorphic rocks. It develops in environments where there is a high concentration of sodium and chlorine but limited silica.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a decorative stone for jewelry, cabochons, beads, and small carvings. In industry, it is sometimes used as an architectural veneer (sodalite granite/syenite) and as a pigment or ornamental stone.

Geological facts

Sodalite was first discovered in Greenland in 1811 but became commercially popular after large deposits were found in Ontario, Canada, in 1891. It is often called 'Princess Blue' after Princess Margaret of Wales. It is a member of the sodalite mineral group, which includes lapis lazuli, but sodalite rarely contains the gold pyrite flecks seen in lapis.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its deep blue color mixed with white veinlets of calcite and the lack of golden pyrite specks (distinguishing it from lapis lazuli). It is fluorescent under UV light (often glowing orange-red). Common locations include Bancroft, Ontario; South Africa; Brazil; and Bolivia.

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