Lapis Lazuli vs Sodalite

How to Tell Lapis Lazuli from Sodalite

Lapis lazuli and sodalite can have a very similar blue colour, but telling lapis lazuli from sodalite is usually quite easy.

Although sodalite is best known for being blue, it also occurs in other colours. However, blue is far more common.

Lapis lazuli is always blue, though the depth and uniformity of colour can vary depending on the grade.

Lapis lazuli, which is a rock, not a mineral, is composed of several different minerals, one of which is sodalite. The primary mineral is lazurite, which gives lapis its rich blue colour.

In some articles and YouTube presentations, it's claimed that lazurite is also responsible for the blue colour in sodalite, which is not correct. Sodalite is a separate mineral whose blue colour is intrinsic to its own crystal structure.
The easiest way to tell lapis lazuli from sodalite is by looking for inclusions of pyrite. These golden speckles are found in most, but not all, lapis lazuli, regardless of grade.

Although pyrite and sodalite can form in similar geological environments, pyrite inclusions are far less common in sodalite than in lapis lazuli. 

Pyrite, also known as iron pyrite and Fool's Gold, is an iron sulphide mineral, meaning it's a chemical compound of iron and sulphur.  

The amount of pyrite in a piece of lapis lazuli can vary considerably. 


Inclusions of white calcite, which are common in lapis lazuli, can sometimes give the stone a slightly mottled appearance.

Although calcite can also be an inclusion in sodalite, it looks quite different. The finest grade blue sodalite can be relatively free from inclusions.

The sodalite tumbled stones on the left in this photo are a high grade. The stones on the right are included with calcite.

Although inclusions in sodalite can give the stone an interesting appearance, the presence of another mineral lowers the grade. 
Calcite inclusions can be seen in the lapis lazuli stones in this next photo, but it's far more grey. You'll also notice the stone's colour is more of a navy blue as opposed to a royal blue.     

Sodalite can also feature an orange inclusion, which may be calcite, feldspar or may come from staining or oxidation. 

Blue sodalite is far more common than lapis lazuli and can be found in several countries. Therefore, commercial-grade stones tend to be considerably cheaper.

Calcite inclusions in sodalite, which are relatively common, tend to be white, greyish-white or orange.

When comparing two stones of a similar size, lapis lazuli would be heavier than sodalite and depending on the grade, should also be more expensive.

If you're still unsure, the next option would be a scratch test, but scratching a nice stone purely for identification purposes should always be the last resort.

Article Photos

The lapis lazuli and sodalite are from our collection. Photos 2, 3, and 4 are clickable. 

Pop-up photos: Sulphur, lazurite, sodalite on calcite: Courtesy of Géry Parent. Calcite: Courtesy of Stan Celestian.