mineral
Sodalite
Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2 (Sodium Aluminum Silicate Chloride)
Hardness: 5.5-6 Mohs; Color: Royal blue to greyish blue with white streaks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Cubic; Gravity: 2.27-2.33.
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Royal blue to greyish blue with white streaks
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5-6 Mohs; Color: Royal blue to greyish blue with white streaks; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Cubic; Gravity: 2.27-2.33.
Formation & geological history
Found in silica-poor igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites and phonolites. Formed through crystallization from alkaline magmas.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry (cabochons and beads), ornamental carvings, and architectural accents like countertops. Also popular in mineral collecting.
Geological facts
Sodalite is often mistaken for Lapis Lazuli, but unlike Lapis, Sodalite rarely contains golden pyrite inclusions and typically features white calcite veins instead. It is known to fluoresce orange under short-wave UV light.
Field identification & locations
Look for a rich blue color with distinctive white veining and lack of pyrite. Commonly found in Canada (Ontario), Brazil, Namibia, and Greenland. It is a tectosilicate mineral.
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