Sodalite in Sterling Silver. A light, relatively hard yet fragile mineral, sodalite is named after its sodium content.
Sodalite’s history includes its discovery in Greenland in 1811. However, it didn’t become a popular ornamental stone until 1891 when large deposits were found in Ontario, Canada. Its name derives from its high sodium content, meaning “sodium stone”. Its popularity surged after the Princess of Wales was gifted the Canadian stone. This led her to order large quantities to decorate her London residence, Marlborough House.
- Discovery and Naming: Sodalite was first discovered in Greenland by Scottish mineralogist Thomas Thomson in 1811. The name “sodalite” comes from its high sodium content, combining the Latin “soda” (sodium) and “lithos” (stone).
- Popularization: While discovered in 1811, sodalite was not recognized as a valuable ornamental stone until large deposits were found in Ontario, Canada, in 1891.
- Royal Connection: The stone’s popularity increased significantly after the Princess of Wales was presented with a sample of the Canadian sodalite. Captivated by its beauty, she ordered 130 tons to be shipped to England. She used it to decorate her London residence, Marlborough House.
- “Princess Blue”: The mine in Ontario where the sodalite was discovered was named the Princess Sodalite Mine in 1901 in her honor. The stone from this mine is sometimes called “Princess Blue”.
- Modern Use: Today, sodalite is widely used in jewelry and for decorative carvings. It is often confused with lapis lazuli due to its similar blue color.