You may think that you have yet to see a Sodalite, however if you have a piece of jewellery, an ornament or gemstone globe made of Lapis Lazuli much of its deep rich blue colour is most likely to be attributed to the mineral Sodalite.
As well as being a vivid opaque blue gemstone, Sodalite is also the name given to the family of gemstones which includes Hackmanite and Lazurite.
Although the gemstone was initially discovered and documented in Greenland in 1806, it took a further century for a sufficient quantity to be unearthed in Ontario, Canada before it started to become faceted and set in jewellery.
The gem receives its name from the presence of sodium. It is sometimes also referred to as Princess Blue after Princess Patricia of Connaught, who fell so much in love with the gemstone whilst staying in Canada, that on her return to the UK she had whole areas of various rooms in Marlborough House decorated with Sodalite. Today gem-quality Sodalite has been found in Australia, Brazil, Colombia. Crystal Healers believe that the gem can prove useful if you are in a state of mental confusion and that it is good for relieving stress. Sodalite is associated with the Chakras (especially the third eye) and is said to calm emotions and instil an inner peace.
