Labradorite

Labradorite is a dull grey stone until it is turned in the light, when a sheet of blue, green or gold colour appears across the surface and vanishes again. The effect is one of the most striking in the mineral world, and it has attracted stories from several cultures.

What it is

Labradorite is a plagioclase feldspar, a silicate of sodium, calcium and aluminium, with a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. The flash of colour is called labradorescence. It is caused by thin, regular layers inside the stone that interfere with light, in a way comparable to a soap film, and so the colour changes with the viewing angle. The effect is only visible from certain directions, and cutters have to orient a piece carefully to show it.

The stone takes its name from Labrador, in eastern Canada, where it was described in the eighteenth century, and Moravian missionaries are credited with bringing it to European attention around 1770. It is also found in Finland, where a particularly vivid variety with a full spectrum of colours is sold as spectrolite, and in Madagascar, India, Russia and Norway.

History and culture

Among the Inuit of Labrador, a story is often retold that the northern lights were once trapped in the rocks of the coast, and that a warrior freed most of them with a blow of his spear, leaving a few shimmering in the stone. This is a legend as it has been recorded and retold in modern sources, and it is usually presented as a reason for the stone’s nickname, the northern lights stone, rather than as a preserved ancient text.

In Finland, a particularly colourful labradorite from the Ylämaa area is sold under the trade name spectrolite, and it has become a notable part of the Finnish gem tradition.

Labradorite is a popular carving and jewellery stone, most often cut as a cabochon, which is a smooth dome that displays the flash well.

What crystal traditions associate with it

In many crystal traditions, labradorite is associated with transformation, intuition and a sense of mystery, reflecting its shifting colours. It is often linked with the sign Sagittarius in modern zodiac stone lists, though sources disagree, and with the throat and third eye in the chakra system. These are symbolic readings of the stone’s appearance, not claims about effects.

How people use it

Labradorite is worn as pendants, rings and beads, where the changing light is part of the appeal. Others keep a palm-sized polished piece on a desk, and turning it in the light while thinking is a small personal ritual for some people. Larger polished slabs and spheres are used as decorative pieces, and raw or half-polished pieces show the flash on one face only.

Care and safety

• Labradorite has cleavage, meaning it can split along flat planes if struck, so avoid knocks and drops.
• Clean with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth, and dry it afterwards.
• Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, which can crack feldspars.
• Sunlight is not usually a problem for the colour, but avoid heat.
• Do not swallow stones or place them in drinks.

Fakes and look-alikes

Some stones sold as labradorite are dyed or coated glass or backed with foil. A real labradorite shows flash only at certain angles and the body colour between flashes is grey to dark. A uniform rainbow sheen visible from every angle suggests something else. Dyed stones, sold as “rainbow” or “blue” varieties, are also common.

Sourcing

Madagascar is a major source today, and mining there often involves small artisanal operations with low pay and difficult conditions. Asking a seller about origin and how the stone was purchased is worth doing if provenance matters to you.

A note on health. Crystals are valued for beauty, meaning and ritual. There is no scientific evidence that they treat health conditions. If you are struggling with your health or mood, please speak to a doctor.

Frequently asked questions