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Sodalite Meaning, Powers and History

sodalite-blue-princess-origin-history.webp Sodalite is a rich blue ornamental mineral originally discovered in Greenland in 1806. The name Sodalite reflects the stone's sodium content. Sodalite is found in all shades of blue. It is a major constituent of the rock lapis iconlapis lazuli, so the two are easily confused. However, unlike lapis azuli, sodalite very rarely contains brassy pyrite specks. Even with this difference however, sodalite is used frequently as a substitute for the more rare and expensive lapis azuli. Sodalite gained notoriety in the 1800's during a royal visit to Bancroft, Canada by Princess Margaret of England. The princess fell in love with the mineral and chose it as interior decoration for the "Marlborough House" . For this reason, sodalite from that Canadian area is sometimes called Princess Blue.

sodalite-properties-facts-gemstone.webp Sodalite is a member of the Feldspathoid group of minerals, which are formed in alkali rich, but silica poor environments. Sodalite's beautiful, pure blue color makes it a popular stone for jewelry and ornaments. The stone is generally cut flat or as a cabochon. Clear crystals are very rarely found. Some sodalite crystals may be found in Mount Vesuvius or Arisquarry, Namibia, however they are rarely large enough to be faceted. Sodalite rates a 5.5 on the hardness scale. It is a dark blue, vitreous and semi transparent to semi translucent stone. Sodalite is not a surface stone. It is usually brought up from the deepest levels of the earth through volcanic activity and is found as masses in igneous rocks. Large sodalite crystals are very rare but twelve sided crystals have been found in the lavas of the volcano Vesuvius in Italy, although they are too small to be used in jewelry.

sodalite-mystical-properties-wisdom.webp Sometimes called the wisdom stone, sodalite is said to enhance concentration and bolster courage. The stone is believed to have many positive attributes when it comes to its wearer's emotions. It supposedly provides health the mind and emotions. It clears out negativity and unnecessary guilt, promotes clear thinking, rids one of fears and confusion, increases stability, and generates harmony with others, as well as the inner self. There are many positive attributes of the stone for the physical body as well. Sodalite is said to help the body maintain a healthy and stable metabolism, ease sleep disorders, strengthen immune responses of the body and the lymph system, and aid the thyroid. It has also been said that wearing sodalite on a regular basis aids the body in the production of insulin. Some consider sodalite a stone of the astrological sign Libra.

sodalite-canada-gemstone-origin.webp The most important source of sodalite is Bancroft in Ontario, Canada. Bancroft is called the "Mineral Capital of Canada" because of its unique area geology. There are really only three large deposits of sodalite in the world and they are all in Canada: Bancroft, Dungannon Township and Hastings County, Ontario. It is for this reason that sodalite is known as the gem of Canada. Other major deposits are in the Ice River complex, in British Columbia, and around Litchfield in Maine. Sodalite is also found in Tasmania, Australia, India, Namibia, Columbia, the Eifel Mountains of Germany, the Ayopaya Province in Brazil, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia.

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