Geology.com News Rocks Minerals Gemstones Volcanoes More Topics US Maps World Maps Store As I’ve written about here, sodalite is a moderately hard rock that scores between a 5-6 on the Mohs hardness scale. The largest deposit of sodalite is found in Brazil. Sodalite occurs in igneous rocks that crystallized from sodium-rich magmas. link to The 11 Best Gem Stones for Business Success, link to The Best Singing Bowls For Healing, Hackmanite and are capable of changing colour in light, unlike some of the alternatives like Lapis Lazuli. Sodalite tumbled stones: Tumbled stones of sodalite. Unlike haüyne and nosean, sodalite is virtually CO 2 -free (Bellatreccia et al., 2009). Differentiated from lapis by its darker blue color and an absence of pyrite. Sodalite is a rare rock-forming mineral best known for its blue to blue-violet color. Sodalite is primarily blue but can be found … However, unlike lapis, sodalite very rarely contains the brassy pyrite specks, and it has a lower specific gravity. Some known outcrops of sodalite bearing rocks are in … I'm documenting everything I discover so that I can reach my own personal nirvana. May also be multicolored blue with white and gray veins. It possesses a darker shade of blue than its sister stones. These magmas also contained so little silicon and aluminum that quartz and feldspar minerals are often absent. Where Is It Found. The video shows several individuals combing the shore of Lake Michigan equipped with UV flashlights. The unique (and beautiful) blue colouring is a rarity in the jewelry world and unlike some of the alternatives like Lapis Lazuli, sodalite is very moderately priced. he biggest deposits of Sodalite Stone has been found in Brazil; but it has also been discovered in Russia, Greenland, Romania, France, India, Myanmar, Namibia, Canada and the United States. Pieces shown are about 5/8" to 1" in diameter. Jiesheng Chen, in Modern Inorganic Synthetic Chemistry, 2011. Check out my guide to buying sodalite here. If significant pyrite is present, the specimen is not sodalite. Blue color, associated with feldspathoid minerals, especially nepheline. Narsaq, Greenland is also one of the first locations the stone was found. Rare kinds of Sodalite have also been found in Namibia and in Vesuvius, Italy. Bancroft Ontario, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. Hopefully now you know a little bit more about sodalite in its original, natural form. Fine grades of Sodalite are found in only a few places in the world. Interestingly, Sodalite is also the name for the group of rock which include hauyne, nosean, lazurite, tugtupite and of course, sodalite. Yooperlite is the name Rintamaki came up with, but the rocks are actually Syenite rocks that are rich in fluorescent Sodalite. Posted On: Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Meaning and Metaphysical Properties of Sodalite Even after the discovery of sodalite mineral stones, sodalite did not really gain an appreciation as an ornamental gemstone until 1891. The meaning of its name relates to its high sodium content. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. MARATHON COUNTY: Sodalite is a component of the nepheline syenite of the Stettin pluton exposed west of Wausau, where it is associated with nepheline, hedenbergite, arfvedsonite, aegirine, fluorite, K feldspar, zircon and cancrinite. Mineral Family: Sodalite is a Silicate mineral. Sodalite; Origin and Gemstone Sources Back to Top Sodalite is found in Brazil (Bahia), Greenland, India, Canada (Ontario), Namibia, Russia (the Urals) and the USA (Montana). Where can sodalite be found? In the U.S., the crystal comes from Dennis Hill, Litchfield, Kennebec Co., Maine; and Magnet Cove, Hot Springs Co., Arkansas. This table of information has been taken from minerals.net. Also gray, white, green, colorless, yellow, red. Sodalite is found in Canada, Germany, India, Russia, and the United States. In fact, their so rare that few geologists ever find these rocks when working in the field. This rare material is sold as a dimension stone for interior use under the trade name of "sodalite granite." It helps us think clearly and find the right words to say. Examples are sodalite, nepheline, leucite, nosean, hauyne, lazurite, cancrinite, and melilite. Comments. Sodalite vs Lapis Lazuli: What’s the difference? Sodalite Fluorescence – a Viral Sensation. The main place where you can find sodalite these days is in the Kokcha Valley, Badakshan Province, Afghanistan. In terms of colour it’s usually a royal blue colour with veins of white found throughout the stone though there are other varieties, most notably: hackmanite. Smaller quantities are found in Brazil and Bolivia in South … The sodalite group also contains hydroxysodalite (hydroxide substitutes for chloride), nosean (containing sulfide and water), and haüynite (containing sulfide and having calcium partially replacing sodium). Check out my article on the proper ways to cleanse sodalite here. Occurring typically in massive form, sodalite is found as vein fillings in plutonic igneous rocks such as nepheline syenites. Sodalite Fluorescence. Sodalite granite: A close-up of the "sodalite granite" from Ice River, British Columbia, Canada. It’s has a number of health benefits that make it so incredibly powerful including support for our: throats, anxiety and even our metabolism. However it can also be found in other places as well. Sodalite is mainly blue or grey but can be white, yellowish, reddish or even greenish. Many may not know this, but they act as instant stress relievers - recommended by theologians worldwide. Canada has several important spots where sodalite can be found including, Dungannon Township, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada, where deep blue veins are mined for gemstone use in the Princess Mine. A semiprecious gemstone often used to produce cabochons, beads, and tumbled stones. Location: Deposits are found in Brazil, Canada, Greenland, India, Namibia, Russia, and the United States (Montana). Sodalite is usually found as masses in igneous rocks. It can be usually seen in jewelry, but has been more used as a healing stone. As you may notice with your crystals, sodalite often has veins or patches of white running through the surface of the stone. Small amounts of sodalite are present in many specimens of lapis lazuli. Sodalite-bearing rocks include: nepheline syenite, trachyte, and phonolite. Sodalite is a relative of Lapis Lazuli and Lazurite. Nosean, found as gray, brown, or blue rounded grains containing inclusions, is a common constituent of volcanic ejecta. The sodalite cage of zeolites A and X can also accommodate K 3 2+ ion cluster. Sodalite is a type of rock known as a feldspathoid (exciting I know). There are so many crystals and gemstones that have long been used for different purposes, healing, gaining strength, and attracting success when attending a job interview or building a business.... Singing bowls have been used as a healing tool for centuries now. Sodalite was first discovered in 1811 in the Ilimaussaq complex in Greenland, and gained importance as an ornamental stone in 1891 when vast deposits of fine material were found … Other sodalite mineral stone deposits have since been found in Brazil, India, Namibia, Russia and in Montana in the United States. On Moh’s scale, the stone weighs in the range of 5.5 to 6, however, the stone has a very poor cleavage, which can be seen through the cracks and fragility that the stone holds. It is formed in Nepheline syenites, phonolites, and related rock types; in metasomatized calcareous rocks, and cavities in ejected volcanic blocks. Even after the discovery of sodalite mineral stones, sodalite did not really gain an appreciation as an ornamental gemstone until 1891. Image by Adam Ognisty, used here under a GNU Free Documentation License. The main place where you can find sodalite these days is in the Kokcha Valley, Badakshan Province, Afghanistan. These minerals are called Hackmanite and are capable of changing colour in light. Find out the meaning, properties, and uses of sodalite in the sections below. And of course, it makes for beautiful gems and jewellery. The blue shades of sodalite are found intermingled with white calcite. These white bands are actually formations of Calcite. You can also found it in Mont Saint Hilaire, Quebec; and at Kicking Horse Pass and the Ice River, both in the Golden Mining Division, British Columbia. Green Sodalite - Found in the Kangerlussaq area, green sodalite is a vibrant green under day light, much of it gem quality. Sodalite is a member of a mineral group known as "feldspathoids." It is also found in Italy, France, Greenland, Canada, India, Namibia, Norway, and the USA. Sodalite is a member of the feldspathoid group of minerals. As a result or more correctly as a function of the fact, they are found in silica poor rocks containing other silica poor minerals and … Sodalite is prized as a precious stone. Sodalite is a rare rock-forming mineral found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. However it can also be found in other places as well. Sodium aluminum silicate with chlorine, and occasionally sulfur. Its name refers to the sodium content in the mineral. Yooperlites are Syenites rich in fluorescent Sodalite, found on Lake Superior beaches in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Its blue color makes it desirable for use as a gemstone, an ornamental stone, and an architectural material. Sodalite mine, Orotumba, Swartbooisdrif, Epupa, Kunene Region, Namibia : Open pit sodalite mine, operated by the Nambian Blue Sodalite (NBS) company. Now I want to share everything I can with you... will you come along for the ride? They also occur in contact metamorphic rocks. Most pieces consist of sodalite interspersed in a lujavrite matrix, along with aegirine and occasionally steenstrupine. This is the origin of the name "sodalite." Sodalite is perhaps best known as a healing crystal. Recently (early September 2018) a viral video sensation swept the internet. So, if you want to protect your crystal, it’s important to store it from other jewelry that could potentially scratch it such as topaz. Hackmanite, a sulfur-rich variety of sodalite, shows tenebrescence.When first mined, stones from Canada and Greenland can range from pink to violet. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Type Locality: ⓘ Ilímaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland. An ornamental stone often used to make small sculptures. Sodalite often has white veining, and it can be confused with lapis lazuli. A less costly alternative to lapis lazuli. What is Sodalite? Often bright blue to violet-blue with white veining. Due to the relatively moderate hardness of sodalite on the Mohs scale, it can be easily scratched by other popular gemstones (and even house dust!). This means its a stone that you do need to be a little more careful with. It is associated with other minerals typical of undersaturated environments, namely leucite, cancrinite and natrolite. Sodalite, whose name reflects its sodium content is found in all shades and hues of blue and is a major constituent of the rock lapis lazuli, therefore these two stones are easily confused. Some sodalite fluoresces yellow to orange in long-wave ultraviolet radiation. Sodalite will generally contain white streaks of calcite though, and scientifically Sodalite also possesses a lower specific gravity than Lapis. It’s moderately hard and brittle and easy to scratch, so be sure to take good care of your gems! Sodalite is a member of the cubic crystal system, but well-formed crystals are rarely found. Minerals whose chemistries are close to that of the alkali feldspars but are poor in silica (SiO 2 ) content, are called feldspathoids. Nepheline syenite with sodalite: Nepheline syenite rich in light blue sodalite. It has a chemical composition of Na4Al3Si3O12Cl and is a member of the feldspathoid mineral group. Large sodalite stone deposits were found at this time in Ontario, Canada. These minerals often occur in igneous rocks, the veins and fractures that cut them. Ideally sodalite has Na4Cl in the two cages in the unit cell. It’s a very rare type of mineral that can only naturally occur in cooled lava (which isn’t surprising considering the incredible latent power these crystals have). This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Large blue stores of the mineral rocks can be found at, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and tiny colorless crystals are found in Italy at Monte Somma, Vesuvius. Sodalite is typically blue (one of the reasons I love it), but it can also be grey, yellow, green, or pink. These types of rocks are so rare that most geologists never see them in the field. Also classed as a feldspathoid. When exposed to SW UV it is very tenebrescent. The discovery was published in Mineral News in 2018. Click to enlarge. Often produces a weak orange fluorescence under shortwave or longwave ultraviolet light. Beads and tumbled stones are some of the most popular varieties of sodalite gems that are available in gem stores. In the U.S., Sodalite comes from Dennis Hill, Litchfield, Kennebec Co., Maine; and Magnet Cove, Hot Springs Co., Arkansas. Located about 200 m north of Orotumba village. The sodalite mineral group includes haüyne, lazurite, and nosean, all typically blue.These minerals actually compose, in large part, lapis lazuli. Poor cleavage in six directions that is usually unnoticed. Sodalite is a sodium aluminium silicate chloride. Large blue stores of the mineral rocks can be found at, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and tiny colorless crystals are found in Italy at Monte Somma, Vesuvius. Found near Ice River, British Columbia, Canada. "Sodalite granite" is a rare nepheline syenite with minor to abundant sodalite that is cut as a dimension stone for interior use. It is usually massive in habit and breaks with a conchoidal fracture rather than exhibiting its poor cleavage. Structure Like most silicates - the zeolites are based on TO 4 tetrahedra, where T is an aluminium or silicon atom (phosphorus in aluminophosphates). The 11 Best Gem Stones for Business Success. Sodalite: Pieces of polished sodalite. I have dozens of sodalite crystals that I’ve collected over the years, but I’ve recently started to think about what exactly Sodalite is on a mineral level. near Lima for trading. Nowadays, it can also be found in Portugal, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Russia, Australia, Tanzania, and China. Well-known sources of sodalite include: Litchfield, Maine; Magnet Cove, Arkansas; northern Namibia; Golden, British Columbia; Bancroft, Ontario; Kola Peninsula of Russia; and the Ilimaussaq intrusive complex of Greenland. Sodalite is a scarce mineral which was named in reference to its sodium content by a Glasgow chemist, Professor Thomas Thomson. The crystal can be found from magmas which are rich in sodium, leading Glasgow chemist, Professor Thomas Thomson to give it its name. Silicate minerals form the largest family of minerals, including more than 25% of all known minerals and 40% of all common minerals. 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