mineral

Sodalite

Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

Hardness: 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Royal blue to deep navy with white calcite streaks or patches. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Cubic/Isometric. Cleavage: Poor in six directions. Specific Gravity: 2.14–2.40.

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed primarily in silica-poor igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites, phonolites, and associated pegmatites. It can also form in metasomatized skarns and contact metamorphic zones.

Uses & applications

Widely used as an ornamental gemstone, for lapidary carving, beads, tumbled stones, and decorative objects. Sometimes used in architecture for inlay work.

Geological facts

Sodalite gets its name from its high sodium content. It is often confused with lapis lazuli, but unlike lapis, sodalite rarely contains pyrite specks and typically features white calcite veins instead. Some varieties exhibit fluorescence under UV light.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its rich blue color accompanied by white or grey mottling/streaks and lack of gold-colored pyrite flakes. Major commercial deposits are found in Canada (Bancroft, Ontario), Brazil, Namibia, Greenland, and Russia.