Sodalite

Greenland sodalite is found throughout the various complexes in large quantities.  Much of it is the typical gray or yellow variety, and almost all of it fluoresces a bright orange. Walking along the mountain trials at night is much like night prospecting in the Franklin NJ quarries - but instead of the ever present orange/red glow from calcite, it’s an orange glow from sodalite.

Certain areas are known for high-quality, vibrantly colored sodalite.  The Gronnedal-Ika Complex (near the Arsuk Fjord) contains vein fillings and disseminations of ultramarine-blue sodalite. The color is intense and well suited for polishing.

Within the Ilimaussaq Complex there is an area which yields a highly tenebrescent green sodalite (variety hackmanite), mixed with brightly fluorescent green uranyl activated fluorescing mineral.  One type is so deeply tenebrescent we have nicknamed it “Chameleon Sodalite”.

Sodalite ranges in (daylight) color from blue, white, pink, gray, green, yellow and most (to date) fluoresce a brilliant orange under long wave UV. SW fluorescense varies depending on the type and locale, as does tenebrescense.

Chemical formula: Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2. Hardness = 6.0, Density = 2.29

The tenebrescent qualities of Greenland sodalite are perhaps one of the more technically interesting aspects of this mineral.   The Tenebrescense Overview provides more information and observations on tenebrescense

Green Sodalite - Found in the Kangerlussaq area, green sodalite is a vibrant green under day light, much of it gem quality. When exposed to SW UV it is very tenebrescent. Most pieces consist of sodalite interspersed in a lujavrite matrix, along with aegirine and occasionally steenstrupine.  Usually a green uranyl activated FL coats many of the pieces, and sometimes gray/white FL beryllite is found.  Only a single pocket of this material was found.

Chameleon Sodalite - A variety of Green Sodalite, these pieces are always of gem quality.  Non-tenebrescnet areas are a deep blue green natural color, while the tenbrescent sodalite darkens to a deep rich purple. The color change causes a complementary color change under UV also - turning some pieces almost red.

Yellow Sodalite - The Taseq Slopes offer many varieties of sodalite but none match the beauty of pieces which are a gemmy yellow color in daylight.  In addition to their brilliance under UV, these pieces exhibit a deep purple tenebrescense - one of the deepest color changes of all the minerals from the complex.

Solid Sodalite - A few areas offer choice sodalite specimens which are “nothin’ but soda” - solid and bright.  Tunuliarfik has been the most productive for these glowing monsters. Some are deeply tenebrescent, others only a little, and some not at all.

Pea-Green Sodalite - This variety of sodalite is the brightest yet found in the complex. In daylight it is colored a pea-green, but under UV the orange glow is bright.  These pieces are not tenebrescent.

Checkers Sodalite - A variety of white sodalite was found one summer and turned out to be the most tenebrescent material we’ve found to date.  The color change is almost to black and very rapid. These pieces even tenebresce under sunlight or LW UV.

White Sodalite - Some sodalite has the outward appearance of albite, but can glow a multitude of colors (this type of sodalite is often associated with many other minerals.