Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Tectosilicates
    Crystal system : Cubic
    Chemistry : Na₈Al₆Si₆O₂₄Cl₂
    Rarity : Rare

Sodalite is a mineral from the feldspathoid group. Its atomic structure has large vacancies in which Na or Cl ions are lodged. It is found in alkaline rocks undersaturated with silica, in particular nepheline syenites and the limestone rocks that they metamorphized. It is the faithful accompanist of the nepheline whose deposits it shares. It owes its name to its chemical composition rich in sodium. Sodalite most often occurs in rounded grains or in shapeless grainy masses (sometimes several kilograms), rarely in crystals, most often rhomboidal dodecahedra. The blue to purplish-blue sodalite used in ornamentation is well known but this is not its most frequent color : it is more white, colorless, greyish, sometimes greenish or even pink (hackmanite variety which is dark), with a strong vitreous to oily luster. It is a stone widely used in sculpture, decoration and jewelry.

Sodalite is not present in a notable way in the French subsoil.

Twinning is common on {111} forming pseudohexagonal prisms (this may not be a twin, but simply an elongated growth in direction (111)).

No fake inventories for this mineral species.