Although sodalite is best known for being a blue coloured mineral it can also be found in several other colours.
Sodalite has no use in industry so is used primarily as a gemstone, for beads and for ornamental carvings.
Stones often feature white or orange colouration in the form of veins or patches. These mineral inclusions are likely to be calcite or feldspar.
Some geologists believe the orange may be the result of some kind of staining or oxidation.
In the last couple of years sodalite with orange inclusions has started being marketed as 'Sunset Sodalite'.
Although sodalite is sometimes
mistaken for lapis lapis due to its rich blue colour, it's usually quite easy to tell one from the other.
Sodalite is much lighter in weight and will never feature inclusions of pyrite.
SMOKY QUARTZ
