Sodalite
Image: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
Mineral NameSodalite
Chemical FormulaNa8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemcubic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagedistinct on {110}
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity2.25
Colorsblue, white, gray, green, pink, yellow
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityIce River Complex, British Columbia, Canada
Mineral GroupTectosilicates (Feldspathoid Group)
Usesjewelry, ornamental stone, collector
Associated Mineralsaegirine, albite, nepheline, cancrinite, microcline
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen features vibrant blue sodalite intergrown with dark green aegirine pyroxene and whitish albite feldspar, forming a striking pegmatitic rock. Sodalite typically appears as massive to granular aggregates, often with a vitreous luster.
Geological Context
Sodalite forms in alkali-rich igneous rocks, such as nepheline syenites and phonolites, and their associated pegmatites. This specimen is described as a cavity-filling in a pegmatitic syenite from the Ice River Complex.
