September 5, 2023

all about sodalite

Throat & third eye chakras
Stone of truth
5.5-6 hardness
Focus, communication, logical thinking
Knowledge, wisdom, intuition

Geology

Sodalite was first discovered in the early 1800s in Greenland, but became popular in the 1890s when it was discovered in Canada.

Sodalite is a tectosilicate mineral, which is a type of silicate mineral. A silicate mineral is one that contains the elements silica and oxygen, and tectosilicate describes the way those atoms are arranged in the structure. Tectosilicates are a large group of minerals that make up around 75% of the earth’s crust. This group of silicates also contains the feldspar group, which includes labradorite, amazonite, moonstone and more.

But sodalite isn’t a member of the feldspar group, it is actually a feldspathoid. Feldspathoids are very similar to feldspars, except they have a different structure and are lacking in silica. These minerals are relatively rare in nature.

This is the formula for sodalite: Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2. Sodalite is rich in sodium, giving it its name. Sodalite is an igneous rock formed intrusively, meaning within the earth, from a sodium rich magma. Sodalite can be found in rocks ejected during volcanic eruptions.

Sodalite has a hardness of 5.5-6 and a white streak which can be used to identify it. Sodalite is most easily identifiable by its unique blue color, but can also be found in gray, yellow, pink and other colors. However when sodalite is these other colors, it can be difficult to differentiate it from other similar minerals. It is also known for its white veining throughout the stone, which is usually calcite. Because sodalite is lacking in silica, it is rarely found alongside quartz. Sodalite is very often found alongside other minerals such as calcite, microcline, nepheline and albite.

You may notice on some pieces of sodalite that there is a bit of a shimmer. This is due to the schiller effect, which is something very common in feldspars. The schiller effect is caused by light reflecting off tiny platelets or layers within a stone.

Safety & care

Sodalite has a slightly below average hardness level of 5.5-6. This makes it decent for use in jewelry, but you still need to be cautious about the stone coming into contact with harder objects or crystals, such as quartz.

This isn’t a great stone to leave soaking in water, but a quick rinse won’t hurt. As always, it isn’t recommended to consume any water that has had sodalite soaking in it, or any crystal for that matter, as it contains elements that could be potentially harmful if ingested. Handling or wearing sodalite is in by no means dangerous as long as you aren't inhaling crystal dust or consuming its elements. Leaving sodalite in water for extended periods of time could also cause your stone to crack, dissolve, or lose its shine.

Sodalite isn’t particularly sensitive to sunlight, so it’s okay to leave it in the sun to charge for short periods of time. Other methods to cleanse the energy of sodalite are moonlight, selenite, smoke cleansing, or leaving it in dry sea salt.

Localities

Sodalite is found in quite a few places worldwide, most commonly Brazil, India, Canada, Russia, Greenland, Italy, and the US (specifically Arkansas and Maine).

Quality

Low quality pieces of sodalite will have a lighter, less saturated color with much more white throughout the stone. It’s difficult to find sodalite that doesn’t have any white inclusions at all, but higher quality pieces will have much less. High quality sodalite has a much deeper and evenly distributed color. Sometimes the color can be so deep it is almost black! No matter what quality of sodalite you’re looking at, it’s a pretty affordable stone and easy to find at just about any crystal shop.

On extremely rare occasions, sodalite can actually form crystals!

Rare sodalite crystals (source)

Treated & fakes

I don’t think I’ve ever seen any completely fake or man made sodalite. Earlier I mentioned that sodalite is a feldspathoid which makes it geologically rare, but it is not rare on the crystal market. Sodalite is very accessible and affordable, and there isn’t really a need for it to be faked. However, occasionally other stones are mislabeled for sodalite.

The most common mislabeling situation regarding sodalite is it being confused for lapis lazuli, especially low quality pieces that look very similar. But there are a couple things to look out for when differentiating between the two.

Here's how to tell the difference between sodalite and lapis lazuli:

Look for pyrite: Lapis lazuli is known for its beautiful gold specks of pyrite. Even the lowest quality piece of lapis is likely to have some sparkly pyrite included. It’s not impossible for sodalite to form with pyrite, but it’s not the norm. If you see gold specks, you can almost guarantee it is lapis.
Pattern of white inclusions: Both sodalite and lapis can have white inclusions, especially in lower quality pieces. Sodalite has a veining pattern of white, whereas lapis has a splotchy white pattern or even parallel stripes that occur during its formation as a metamorphic rock.
Shade of blue: The biggest way to tell the difference between sodalite and lapis is the color of blue. Sodalite is usually more of a grayish blue, and can be a lot darker and close to black. Lapis is more of an ultramarine or royal blue that is much more vibrant. Sodalite may also have different shades of blue within a single piece, whereas lapis is usually pretty uniform.
Streak color: If you have a raw piece, you can use the streak test to tell which stone you have. Lapis will have a blue streak, and sodalite will have a white streak.

sodalite points vs. lapis lazuli hearts

Metaphysical properties

Sodalite is associated with the throat and third eye chakras and is known as the stone of truth. This is the stone I always recommend for people in school, who are working, or in any situation where you would need to focus, study, or communicate with others. It is the perfect stone for students as it helps with logical thinking and productive communication. Sodalite encourages rational thought, objectivity and truth. It allows you to not only see others in an honest light, but allows you to express yourself and your feelings clearly. It is a great stone for working with others, as it eases tension between people and allows for compassion and understanding. When using sodalite, you will be able to look at a situation and see all perspectives.

Sodalite helps you to connect to your higher and most authentic self and promotes self acceptance, self esteem and trust. Sodalite is great for calming the mind and brings emotional balance during stressful times. With sodalite, you will be able to think logically and turn a negative situation into something positive and constructive. It helps with discipline and rationality. Sodalite’s energy clears your mind to allow for wisdom and knowledge to come through.

Sodalite is a great stone for meditation and working with the third eye. It helps you to connect to your intuition and receive information. Sodalite helps us to deeply understand ourselves. When working with sodalite, you will find it easier to speak your truth.