Fluorescent sodalite dragon head 92g

A hand-carved sodalite dragon head from Afghanistan, 92g, with a compact near-cubic footprint. In daylight the piece is a grey-blue sodalite carving with sculptural detail carved into the surface to render the dragon form. Under longwave UV (365nm) the carving transforms: the sodalite produces a strong orange-gold fluorescent glow across the entire piece, and the UV effect gives the carving a dramatic, fiery quality, with the carved relief casting sharp shadows against the surrounding luminous orange.

The material is sodalite from Badakhshan, Afghanistan, where the mineral occurs with calcite and hackmanite-sodalite components that produce vivid orange fluorescence under longwave UV (365nm). Sodalite's hardness of around 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale makes it practical for detailed carving work. At 92g with a roughly cubic 36mm form, the piece has solid presence both as a display object in ordinary light and as a UV display piece.

• Stone type: Natural sodalite (fluorescent)
• Weight: 92g
• Size: 36x36x34mm
• Color: Grey blue
• Fluorescence: Strong orange (365nm)
• Cut: Carved
• Clarity: Opaque
• Treatment: Untreated
• Origin: Afghanistan

Natural sodalite dragon head carving, fluorescent, Afghanistan.