igneous
Larvikite
Monzonite (anorthoclase-bearing)
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color with prominent silvery-blue or blue-green schiller effect (labradorescence), vitreous to pearly luster, triclinic/monoclinic crystal structure, specific gravity around 2.7 to 2.8.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, dark gray to black color with prominent silvery-blue or blue-green schiller effect (labradorescence), vitreous to pearly luster, triclinic/monoclinic crystal structure, specific gravity around 2.7 to 2.8.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the cooling of magma in deep-seated intrusive chambers (plutonic) during the Permian period, roughly 292 to 300 million years ago, primarily in the Oslo Rift region of Norway.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a dimensional stone in architecture, polished exterior cladding for commercial buildings, kitchen countertops, floor tiles, and ornamental monuments.
Geological facts
Larvikite is the national rock of Norway and is internationally famous for its distinctive optical phenomenon caused by microperthite feldspar intergrowths that reflect light.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its dark polished surface showing striking flashes of blue or silvery iridescence. Most commonly sourced commercially from the Larvik region in Norway, though similar monzonites exist globally.
