Sodalite
Hackmanite
Mogok Township, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
2.61 carats
© Rarestone.com
It was first discovered in 1811 in Greenland, but became important as an ornamental stone in 1891 when vast deposits of fine material were discovered in Ontario, Canada.
Sodalite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Sodalite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Sodalite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.06 cts
Heaviest:71.1 cts
Average:9.46 cts
Total photos:54
Do you have a larger Sodalite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Varieties/Types: | Hackmanite - Pink to grey-white to white variety of Sodalite. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Sodalite Treatments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sodalite is reported to lose its color on heating and regain it on irradiation (Przibram and Caffyn, 1956), indicating the probable presence of a color center - Nassau (1984) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Sodalite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 5 to 6, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.15 to 2.40, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenacity | Brittle, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Indistinct, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Uneven, Gemstones (2009) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Sodalite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.478 to 1.488, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Isotropic, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | None, Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Absent, Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | 0.018, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Blue, blue-violet, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Blue, interstitial oxygen ion O- near Al or Si. Pink, (hackmanite), unstable electron substituting for Cl- in a tetrahedron of Na+ ions, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent,Opaque, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous,Greasy, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence & other light emissions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (General) | Strong; orange, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Sodalite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Isometric, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Polycrystalline aggregate, commonly with white veins, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Formed in nepheline syenites, phonolites, and related rock types. In metasomatized calcareous rocks, and in cavities in ejected volcanic blocks., Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inclusions in Sodalite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White calcite patches and veins. No pyrite inclusions unlike lapis. Translucent sodalite: small black inclusions common - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Sodalite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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