mineral
Tumbled sodalite
Sodalite, Na₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)Cl₂
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTypically deep blue with white calcite veining and a vitreous to greasy luster; Mohs hardness 5.5–6, cubic crystal system, poor cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.2–2.4. The specimen appears polished and shaped.
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Physical properties
Typically deep blue with white calcite veining and a vitreous to greasy luster; Mohs hardness 5.5–6, cubic crystal system, poor cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.2–2.4. The specimen appears polished and shaped.
Formation & geological history
Sodalite forms in silica-poor, sodium-rich igneous rocks, especially nepheline syenites and related alkaline intrusions. Its age depends on the host rock; notable deposits occur in geologically old igneous complexes.
Uses & applications
Used for carvings, beads, ornamental stone, and inexpensive jewelry; also collected as a mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Sodalite is often confused with lapis lazuli, but it commonly has white calcite veins and lacks lapis’s characteristic golden pyrite flecks.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its blue color, white veining, and hardness below quartz; common sources include Canada, Brazil, Namibia, and Greenland. The image is consistent with a polished sodalite piece, though visual identification is not definitive.
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