Sodalite: Properties, Facts and Photos

Sodalite is a sodium-rich mineral that occurs in massive form rather than as individual crystals. Although formally identified in Europe in the early nineteenth century, archaeological evidence suggests it was known much earlier, after beads found in the ruins of a pre-Columbian city were identified as sodalite.

What is Sodalite?

Sodalite is a captivating mineral known for its distinctive blue colour and frequent white, grey or orange markings.

Although not used in industry, sodalite is highly valued for its decorative appeal and metaphysical healing properties.

Due to its rich blue colour, sodalite is often mistaken for lapis lazuli. However, they’re two distinct stones. Sodalite is a single mineral; lapis lazuli is a metamorphic rock composed of several minerals, including sodalite, calcite, and pyrite.

Sodalite is best known as a blue mineral, but it also occurs in other colours.

The white, grey, or orange markings come from impurities of calcite or feldspar. The orange could also be due to some kind of staining or oxidation.

Although sodalite with orange inclusions was originally known as orange sodalite, the trade name Sunset Sodalite is now being used. 

Sodalite is often used to imitate lapis lazuli because it's more widely available and less expensive. The easiest way of identifying genuine in lapis lazuli. is by its inclusions of pyrite, which are difficult to replicate in fake and imitation stones. 

Although sodalite does occur with pyrite, this combination is far less common and looks very different.

The largest commercial sodalite deposits are in Bancroft, Ontario, Ice River, British Columbia, Litchfield, Maine, U.S.A. and Brazil.

It can also be found in smaller quantities in Greenland, Montana, India, Bolivia, Afghanistan, Namibia, Portugal, Romania, Burma and Russia.

The History of Sodalite

The first notable reference to sodalite was in 1806 during the Napoleonic War. It was identified when a large quantity was travelling from Greenland to Denmark.

While in transit, it caught the attention of the British and was examined by Scottish chemist Thomas Thomson. He subsequently named this new mineral sodalite to reflect its high sodium content.

Sodalite remained relatively unknown until 1891 when huge deposits were discovered in Bancroft, Ontario. In 1893, sodalite was displayed at The World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Although often reported to be a relatively new find, several respected articles state that sodalite was used thousands of years ago by ancient civilisations in South America.

In the 1870s, a German geologist found blue beads along with quartz and obsidian arrowheads in the ruins of Tiahuanaco. This pre-Columbian city sits on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. After being analysed, the beads were confirmed to be sodalite.

It has also been identified in archaeological evidence as having been traded across the central Andes, where it was used for jewellery and ritual objects.

Sodalite Properties (geology)

Sodalite from Greenland has a different appearance and is often grey or yellow. Other vibrant colours, including blue, white, pink, green and red are also known.

Some varieties fluoresce under UV light, while others are tenebrescent. Tenebrescent minerals change colour when exposed to UV light and return to their original colour when the light source is removed.

The exceptional grade of this sodalite makes it suitable for polishing. However, due to its rarity, it rarely is.

The variety that exhibits tenebrescence is known as Hackmanite.

A deposit of exceptionally fine-grade sodalite has recently been discovered in Quebec, Canada. A few polished stones from this locality are beginning to appear on the market.

On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, sodalite grades 5.5 to 6. When used for gemstones, it's cut as a cabochon and can be highly polished.

Sodalite: A Favourite with the Royals

It's widely reported that in 1901, during a visit to Canada, the Prince and Princess of Wales, who later became King George V and Queen Mary, fell in love with sodalite. They subsequently had one hundred thirty tons shipped to the UK. 

It's reported the sodalite was used to decorate Marlborough House, their home. Although I have seen documentation to confirm the shipment took place, I have not found anything that confirms the stone was used in Marlborough House.

Not long after the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Canada, the deposit where sodalite was mined became known as the Princess Sodalite Quarry.

The Princess of Wales subsequently gave the future King George V a letter opener with a sodalite handle and gold blade. It also featured other crystals and a crown at the top of the handle.

A note from her records shows that before becoming Queen Mary, the Princess of Wales also had a pair of ornate urns made from sodalite.

Article Pictures

The sodalite at the top of our article is courtesy of James St.John. 

The second photo is courtesy of Géry Parent.

The third image is Hackmanite being illuminated under UV light, courtesy of Ron Wolf.

The sodalite tumbled stones are from our collection.

Pop-up photos
Lapis lazuli: Courtesy of Steve Blyskal. Obsidian arrowhead: Courtesy of James St. John. Sodalite (Ontario): Courtesy of Alan English.