mineral

Sodalite

Sodalite (Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 5.5 - 6 on the Mohs scale; Color: deep royal blue, denim blue, blackish-blue, with veins of white or brownish-yellow calcite and feldspar; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal system: isometric; Cleavage: poor/uneven; Specific gravity: 2.27 - 2.33.

Hardness: 5
Luster: vitreous to greasy

Identified October 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in silica-poor, alkali-rich igneous rocks such as nepheline syenite, phonolites, and related pegmatites, as well as in metasomatically altered skarns and marbles.

Uses & applications

Commonly carved and polished into ornamental objects like eggs, spheres, beads, cabochons, and decorative tiles. Highly collected as an ornamental gemstone.

Geological facts

Sodalite is named after its high sodium content. It is well-known for fluorescing a distinct bright orange under longwave ultraviolet light, distinguishing it easily from lapis lazuli.

Field identification & locations

Identifiable by its characteristic rich blue color mottled with white/cream veins and the absence of golden pyrite specks (which differentiate it from lapis lazuli). Prominent deposits are found in Bahia (Brazil), Bancroft (Ontario, Canada), Namibia, and Greenland.