Labradorite

(Na,Ca)(Al,Si)4O8

A dark, grayish-black mineral specimen displaying a strong iridescent play of colors, known as labradorescence, with prominent flashes of blue and green.

Labradorite Physical Properties

Mohs Hardness

6.5

Crystal System

triclinic

Luster

vitreous

Streak Color

white

Cleavage

perfect on {001}, good on {010}, poor on {110}

Fracture

uneven

Specific Gravity

2.7

Colors

gray, dark gray, black, greenish, brownish, iridescent blue, green, yellow, orange, red

Transparency

translucent

Type Locality

Wiborg Batholith, Kymi Province, Finland

Mineral Group

Silicates

Uses

jewelry, ornamental stone, collector

Associated Minerals

pyroxene, olivine, magnetite, ilmenite

Rarity

common

Geological Context

Labradorite is a characteristic mineral of mafic igneous rocks such as gabbro, basalt, and anorthosite. This specimen originates from the 1.633 billion-year-old Wiborg Batholith, a large intrusive igneous complex in Finland.

Back to Collection

Related Specimens

Euclase

Corundum

Gmelinite

Citrine

Bauxite

Elbaite