mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite, Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

Hardness: 5.5-6.0 on Mohs scale; Color: typically royal blue, gray, or white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Cubic (Isometric); Cleavage: Poor; Specific gravity: 2.27-2.33.

Hardness: 5
Color: typically royal blue, gray, or white
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified March 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5.5-6.0 on Mohs scale; Color: typically royal blue, gray, or white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Cubic (Isometric); Cleavage: Poor; Specific gravity: 2.27-2.33.

Formation & geological history

Formed in silica-poor igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites and phonolites. It can also occur in contact metasomatic rocks. Most commercial deposits date to the Precambrian or Paleozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as an ornamental gemstone, for architectural carvings, beads, and cabochons. In industry, it is sometimes used as a pigment or a source of aluminum and sodium in specialized applications.

Geological facts

Sodalite is often mistaken for Lapis Lazuli, but unlike Lapis, it rarely contains golden pyrite specks and has a white streak rather than a blue one. It was famously discovered in Greenland in 1811 and became popular in jewelry after a large deposit was found in Ontario, Canada, in 1901.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinctive 'royal blue' color streaked with white calcite veins. It often fluoresces bright orange-red under long-wave UV light (tenebrescent varieties like Hackmanite). Commonly found in Bancroft (Ontario), Brazil, and Namibia.