mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite (Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2)

Hardness: 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale; Color: typically royal blue, can be gray, green, or yellow; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: cubic/isometric; Cleavage: poor/uneven; Specific Gravity: 2.27 to 2.33.

Hardness: 5
Color: typically royal blue, can be gray, green, or yellow
Luster: vitreous to greasy

Identified March 23, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms primarily in silica-poor igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites and phonolites. It can also be found in contact metamorphic rocks where marble has been altered by magmatic fluids. Formation can occur throughout various geological eras depending on magma cooling environments.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in jewelry for beads, cabochons, and carvings. In industry, it is utilized as an ornamental building stone for tiles and countertops. It is also a popular specimen for mineral collectors and used in holistic metaphysical practices.

Geological facts

Sodalite was first discovered in Greenland in 1811 but became commercially popular after massive deposits were found in Ontario, Canada, during a royal visit by Princess Margaret in 1901 (it is sometimes called 'Princess Blue'). It is often confused with Lapis Lazuli but lacks the characteristic gold-flecked pyrite inclusions.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its distinct deep blue color mixed with white calcite veins. Unlike Lapis Lazuli, it rarely contains pyrite. It will often fluoresce a bright orange or yellow under long-wave UV light. Major locations include Bancroft (Ontario), Brazil, Namibia, and Russia (Kola Peninsula).