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  • Sodalite

Sodalite

Sodalite

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV
Published: June 2014
Modified: January 2022
Sodalite Polished Sodalite Rough Sodalite Jewelry
Table of Contents
  • General Information
  • Sodalite Colors
  • Alternate Names
  • Countries of Origin
  • Care
  • Species/Variety
  • Related Videos

Sodalite is a mineral used most often for carvings and some types of jewelry. Known for its rich, royal blue hues, sodalite is found in limited areas of the world. Frequently mottled with white veins of calcite, sodalite resembles lapis lazuli in appearance and has been mistaken for it at times. It can occur not only as blue, but also in crystals of gray, yellow, green or pink color.

General Information

  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical Properties
  • Chemistry & Crystallography
Common Name
Sodalite
Species
Sodalite
Transparency
Opaque-Semitransparent
Dispersion
Strength: Moderate Fire
Refractive Index
1.483
Tolerance:(+0.004/-).004)
Optic Character
NA
Optic Sign
NA
Polariscope Reaction
Aggregate (AGG)
Fluorescence
SWUV: moderate orange, occasionally green, or yellowish white
LWUV: moderate to strong orange, occasionally yellowish white, or red
CCF Reaction
may appear brownish
Pleochroism
None
Hardness
5-6
Streak
White
Specific Gravity
2.150-2.400 Typical:2.250
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Sodalite usually has white calcite patches and veins. Stones lack pyrite inclusions unlike lapis.
Luster
Vitreous, Greasy
Fracture
Uneven, conchoidal
Cleavage
Poor, in one direction
Chemical Name
chloric sodium aluminum silicate
Chemical Formula
Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
Crystal System
Cubic
Chemistry Classification
Silicate

Sodalite Colors

  • Blue Sodalite
    Blue
  • White Sodalite
    White
  • Pink Sodalite
    Pink
  • Multi-color Sodalite
    Multi-color
  • Black Sodalite
    Black
  • Blue Sodalite
    Blue
  • Colorless Sodalite
    Colorless
  • Yellow Sodalite
    Yellow
  • Green Sodalite
    Green
  • Gray Sodalite
    Gray
  • Orange Sodalite
    Orange

Alternate Names

Canadian Blue Stone

Countries of Origin

Myanmar; Afghanistan; Russian Federation; United States of America; Bolivia (Plurinational State of); India; Canada; Unknown; China; Brazil; Italy; Mexico; South Africa; Greenland

Care

Normal care in untreated stones. Avoid cleaners, chemicals, steam and ultra sonic cleaners in dyed material.

Species/Variety

Hackmanite

Hackmanite is the light pink to pale violet variety of sodalite.

Hackmanite Sodalite
Hackmanite Sodalite
  • Classification
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Hackmanite
Specific Gravity
2.140
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Hackmanite can contain small black inclusions.
Stability
Poor

Sodalite-Single Crystal

Sodalite is a mineral used most often for carvings and some types of jewelry. Known for its rich, royal blue hues, sodalite is found in limited areas of the world. Frequently mottled with white veins of calcite, sodalite resembles lapis lazuli in appearance and has been mistaken for it at times. It can occur not only as blue, but also in crystals of gray, yellow, green or pink color.

Sodalite-Single Crystal Sodalite
Sodalite-Single Crystal Sodalite
  • Classification
  • Optical Properties
  • Characteristic Physical properties
Common Name
Sodalite-Single Crystal
Dispersion
Strength: moderate fire Value: 0.018
Fluorescence
LWUV: Inert to Weak Orange
Toughness
Poor
Inclusions
Transparent sodalite sometimes has small black inclusions.
Stability
Poor

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