The magic of nature, the elegance of you
Labradorite: The Stone of Shifting Light
Discover Labradorite—how this remarkable feldspar forms, where it's found, the science behind its colorful flash, its folklore, chakra associations, and fascinating facts.
STONE STORIES
About Labradorite
Labradorite is a member of the feldspar mineral family, best known for its remarkable flashes of blue, green, gold and sometimes violet or orange. This optical effect is called labradorescence. It occurs when light enters the stone and interacts with extremely thin internal layers, producing the shifting colors that seem to move as the stone is turned.
Stone Type: Feldspar mineral Mineral Family: Feldspar Hardness: 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale
Colors: Typically gray to dark gray, sometimes colorless, white or brown, with flashes that may appear blue, green, gold, yellow, orange, violet or multicolored
Notable Feature: Labradorescence
Notable Sources: Canada, Madagascar, Finland, Norway and Russia
How Labradorite Gets Its Flash
Labradorite forms in igneous rocks as molten material slowly cools and crystallizes. During cooling, different feldspar compositions can separate into extremely thin internal layers.
When light enters the stone, it interacts with these microscopic layers. As light interacts with these microscopic layers, different wavelengths are reflected and scattered in different ways, producing the brilliant shifting colors known as labradorescence.
The color isn't caused by pigment. Instead, Labradorite's spectacular blue, green, gold and other flashes are created by the way light interacts with its internal structure.
Chakra & Symbolism
Associated Chakras: Third Eye & Crown Chakras
Traditional Symbolism: Intuition • Transformation • Protection • Self-Discovery
Labradorite is commonly associated in modern crystal traditions with the Third Eye Chakra, representing intuition, insight and inner awareness. It is also sometimes connected with the Crown Chakra, representing higher consciousness and spiritual connection.
Because of its dramatic shifting colors, Labradorite has become a popular symbol of transformation and discovering what lies beneath the surface.
Affirmation
“I trust my intuition and embrace the changes that reveal my path.”
Folklore & Legend
Labradorite has inspired stories almost as captivating as its shifting colors. One popular modern legend tells of the Northern Lights becoming trapped within the rocks along the coast of Labrador. According to the tale, the brilliant flashes seen in the stone are remnants of that celestial light.
Labradorite takes its name from Labrador, Canada, where European missionaries documented the stone in the late 18th century. Its extraordinary flashes of color later helped make the mineral prized as an ornamental stone.
Interesting Facts About Labradorite
The Flash Has a Name
Labradorite’s brilliant shifting colors are known as labradorescence. The effect comes from light interacting with microscopic layers inside the stone—not from pigment.
Named for Labrador, Canada
Labradorite takes its name from Labrador, Canada, where the mineral was documented in the late 18th century. Today, notable material is also found in Madagascar, Finland and other locations.
Every Angle Can Tell a Different Story
A piece of Labradorite may look gray or subdued from one direction and suddenly reveal brilliant blue, green, gold or other colors when turned toward the light. The viewing angle is part of the magic.
Spectrolite Is a Special Variety
Spectrolite is a variety of labradorite especially associated with Finland. It is prized for its particularly vivid labradorescence, which can display a broad spectrum of colors including blue, green, gold, orange, red and violet.