Sodalite

Sodalite is a deep royal blue stone, usually streaked with white, and it is often taken for lapis lazuli. It is a mineral in its own right, with a history that is shorter but a character that is entirely its own.

What it is

Sodalite is a sodium aluminium silicate containing chloride, and it is named for its sodium content. Its hardness is 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. It is usually a rich blue, although it can also be grey, white, green or pink, and white veins of calcite or other minerals often run through it. Unlike lapis lazuli, it does not normally contain gold flecks of pyrite.

Sodalite forms in igneous rocks that are low in silica, and it is found in Canada (notably the Bancroft area of Ontario), Brazil, Namibia, Bolivia, Russia, India and the United States. A variety called hackmanite, found in places such as Afghanistan and Myanmar, is known for changing colour when exposed to light, a property called tenebrescence.

History and culture

Sodalite was first described in the early nineteenth century from Greenland, and it was named for its sodium content. For a long time, it was a mineral known chiefly to collectors, until large deposits of vivid blue stone were found in Ontario. The Canadian stone was used as a decorative material in buildings, and the vivid blue stone from Bancroft became known in Canada as “Princess Blue”.

Because of its colour, sodalite is often used in place of lapis lazuli, and people sometimes call it “poor man’s lapis”. That is unfair to the stone, which has a character of its own, with a cooler, more uniform blue and white veining in place of pyrite flecks.

Sodalite does not appear on the traditional birthstone lists, so it is a stone of modern crystal practice and decorative use.

What crystal traditions associate with it

In many crystal traditions, sodalite is associated with logic, clear thinking and honest expression, and with the throat and third eye chakras, because of its deep blue colour. It is often paired with Sagittarius in modern zodiac stone lists, though sources vary. These are symbolic associations, not claims about effects.

How people use it

Sodalite is cut as beads, cabochons, carved objects and polished spheres, and large slabs are used as decorative panels and tiles. Many people keep a tumbled stone on a desk as a colour to rest the eyes on, or use a palm stone during quiet reflection. It is an affordable, widely available stone, and a good choice if you like deep blue.

Care and safety

• Sodalite is brittle and has poor cleavage in several directions, so it can chip or crack if struck. Avoid knocks and sudden temperature changes.
• Clean with lukewarm water and a soft cloth, and dry at once. Do not soak, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners and acids.
• Strong light can fade some colour over time, and hackmanite darkens and fades in response to light, so keep pieces out of long direct sun.
• Do not swallow stones or place them in drinking water.

Dyes and imitations

Sodalite is sometimes dyed to deepen the blue, and it is also confused with dyed howlite and with lapis lazuli. Quick checks: lapis has gold flecks and a slightly greenish or violet blue, while sodalite has white veins and a more uniform royal blue. A laboratory can confirm a stone when it matters.

Sourcing

Sodalite is mined in a number of countries, including Canada, Brazil and Namibia, in both large and small operations. Ask about origin if you want to know how a stone was obtained.

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