
mineral
Sodalite
Sodalite (Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Royal blue, often with white veins or patches of calcite. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal system: Isometric. Cleavage: Poor. Specific gravity: 2.15 to 2.40.
- Hardness
- 5
- Color
- Royal blue, often with white veins or patches of calcite
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Royal blue, often with white veins or patches of calcite. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal system: Isometric. Cleavage: Poor. Specific gravity: 2.15 to 2.40.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily in igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites and trachytes, crystallizing from sodium-rich silica-poor magmas in pegmatites and volcanic cavities.
Uses & applications
Used extensively as an ornamental stone, in lapidary arts for making beads, cabochons, and small carvings, and as a collector's mineral.
Geological facts
Sodalite is a rich in sodium feldspathoid mineral. When exposed to short-wave ultraviolet light, some varieties of sodalite exhibit a bright orange-red fluorescence.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its characteristic rich royal blue color combined with white calcite veining. Commonly sourced from localities in Canada (Bancroft, Ontario), Greenland, India, Brazil, and the United States.
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