mineral

Sodalite

Na4Al3(SiO4)3Cl (Sodium Aluminum Silicate Chloride)

Hardness: 5.5-6 on the Mohs scale. Color: Rich royal blue, often mottled with white veins or patches of calcite. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal System: Isometric. Cleavage: Poor dodecahedral. Specific Gravity: 2.15-2.35.

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous to greasy

Identified August 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in silica-poor igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites, trachytes, and associated pegmatites from sodium-rich magmas, often through pneumatolytic or hydrothermal processes.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as an ornamental stone, for carved figurines like this Laughing Buddha, in beads, cabochons for jewelry, and occasionally as an architectural tile material.

Geological facts

Sodalite is strongly fluorescent under ultraviolet (UV) light, often glowing an orange-pink color. Large deposits were notably discovered in Greenland in 1810, and it is frequently confused with lapis lazuli due to its deep blue color, though it lacks the characteristic pyrite flecks of lapis.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its intense royal blue coloration, white calcite inclusions, lack of metallic pyrite flecks, and a pale blue streak. Commonly sourced from Canada, Namibia, Brazil, India, and the United States.

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Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)

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