Natural rough sodalite with lazurite, 32.6g, deep blue mineral banded through pale matrix

Natural Sodalite

Sodalite is a sodium aluminum silicate with chlorine (Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2), usually a deep royal blue veined with white. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5 to 6 it is used for cabochons, beads, spheres and carvings. Its variety hackmanite is one of the most fascinating fluorescent minerals.

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Gemstone guide

Natural Sodalite

About sodalite

Sodalite was named for its sodium content and was first described from Greenland in the early nineteenth century; large deposits in Ontario, Canada, later made it popular as an ornamental stone. Hackmanite is a variety that changes color with light: some pieces deepen in color after exposure to UV light and fade again in daylight, a rare effect called tenebrescence. Under longwave UV, Afghan sodalite and hackmanite glow a strong yellow to orange.

What you'll find in this collection

Our sodalite comes mainly from Afghanistan, with some from China, and all of it is untreated. You'll find fluorescent sodalite and hackmanite specimens sold by weight, from a few grams to over 300 grams, polished spheres of about 58 to 65 millimetres, a carving, and sodalite with lazurite.

How to recognise sodalite

Sodalite is a darker, colder blue than lapis lazuli, often with white veins of calcite and rarely with the gold pyrite flecks typical of lapis. Under a UV flashlight, Afghan sodalite and hackmanite glow bright yellow to orange, and photos of that glow are shown on many of our listings. It is lighter than lapis, about 2.3 against 2.8.

Caring for sodalite

Sodalite is moderately soft and has a poor cleavage. Clean it with a soft, damp cloth or lukewarm soapy water, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals. Hackmanite's color change is natural and repeats every time it is exposed to light.

Every stone is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.