Labradorite - a spectacular semi-precious stone
What is labradorite?
Today I will tell you a story about labradorite, a stone that has incredible characteristics. Every piece of labradorite I have held in my hands so far has left me breathless. An incredible and unique play of colors and shimmering shades.
I remember my first encounter with this stone. It left a strong impression on me. In a wholesale store with semi-precious stones, I “glance” at it, then move on to something else, then my gaze “runs away” again. I’m not sure if I’m looking at the same rows. And so on several times. Somehow I think to myself, I shift the sense of perception, my brain is now organizing and interpreting the information. I see blue, I see green, I see lilac and brilliant gray.
An interesting character approaches me and makes a comment without me saying anything. It's like he's reading my mind.
"No, ma'am, it's not an illusion!"
That was my first encounter with this wonder of nature. That's how my first labradorite necklace "Iluzija" was created. Do I need to write where I got the idea for the name of the necklace!? ?
Why is labradorite so popular among jewelers and jewelry designers? What secret does it hide and how does it stand out from other semi-precious stones? Where and how was it discovered?
I reveal all this to you in this blog.
Labradorite is a mineral that is found in igneous rocks and somewhat less often in metamorphic rocks. It crystallizes in the triclinic system. It belongs to feldspars, the largest group of minerals on Earth, more precisely, to their subgroup of plagioclase, which are among the most important tectosilicates.
The chemical formula for labradorite is NaCa(AlSi3O8), and its hardness ranges from 6 – 6.5.
Where are labradorite deposits found?
The largest and most famous labradorite deposits are located in: Canada, Finland and Madagascar . It is also found in: Australia, Greenland, India, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Germany, Russia, USA and Ukraine .
Fantastic play of colors
Labradorite delights with its colorful shades. It can be of various colors , ranging from gray to white. We find it in: gray-black, gray, blue, green, gold, bronze, yellow, red, purple and white .
What is the Schiller effect, and what is labradorescence or iridescence?
Labradorite is a seemingly uniform, dark-colored stone. When dry and unpolished, it can appear unsightly, but when you look at it from the right angle, you will notice phenomenal light reflections , i.e. rainbow colors caused by the growth of two different types of feldspar, with different refractive indices. This phenomenon is called the Sciller effect . This play of colors shows surface grooves and flashes of green, gold, bronze and metallic blue.
Labradorite is associated with the property of labradorescence or iridescence , the result of light reflecting off tiny lamellae smaller than a tenth of a micrometer.
Light that falls on the surface of this mineral gets stuck between the layers and then starts to bounce from one layer to the next. The color we see in the end depends on the thickness of the layers. It can happen that due to the different positions of the crystal layers, the rainbow colors are not actually visible across the entire surface. That is why it is important to choose the right viewing angle.
A special type of labradorite
In addition to Canada, labradorite is also found in large quantities in Finland, and the proud Finns point out that their labradorite, called spectrolite, is more valuable.
Spectrolite is a labradorite with an exceptionally wide range of colors. Although it is a semi-precious stone, it is particularly prized by jewelers.
However, if you ask experts which type of labradorite is the most valued according to aesthetic criteria, they will tell you that it is labradorite from the beaches of Madagascar .
The difference between Canadian and Finnish labradorite (spectrolite)
The difference between spectrolite and labradorite lies in:
- color range
- color intensity .
Spectrolite – Finnish labradorite has stronger and fuller colors on a dark background. Spectrolite has intense colors such as copper, red, orange, bright yellow, brilliant blue, and green .
Bytownite – Canadian labradorite has softer colors and shades on a lighter background.
Many mineralogists will say that Canadian and Finnish labradorite are equally valuable, but that Finland has done excellent marketing in this regard and managed to make its stone stand out with an aggressive campaign.
How did labradorite get its name and where does it come from?
Although the Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote about a stone that had similar or identical properties to labradorite, it was officially discovered in the late 18th century , and was associated with many ancient magical rituals and religious customs.
It was found in 1770 on the Canadian territory, on the Labrador Peninsula , that is, on Paul Island , one of the many islets along the coast of Labrador, near the town of Nain. Unlike some other minerals, which were painstakingly obtained by digging, labradorite was found literally in the form of large pebbles.
It is named after Labrador. Canadian labradorite is also called bytownite after the town of Bytown , which was founded in 1826 and incorporated into the city of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. Bytown is actually the old name for Ottawa, the capital of Canada.
The role of Moravian missionaries in “illuminating” labradorite
The Moravian missionaries who worked in that area realized how much potential is hidden in these fascinating rocks of the Labrador region, and a year after the discovery, they presented labradorite to the Europeans. They sent samples and geological properties of the newly discovered mineral to their secretary in London.
Who were the Moravian missionaries in Canada and how did they end up there?
In 1727, Moravians fled from Roman Catholic persecution in Moravia to the Caribbean and North America. On their journey of escape, they created the first missionary work of the Protestant Church in history. Thus, they brought European education and religion to the “ wild natives in unknown lands .”
In 1752, they wanted to establish their missionary community on the Canadian peninsula of Labrador . They liked the idea very much because of the agreement that was valid for the British colonies. Namely, Lord Halifax , the Secretary of the Colonies, invited the Moravians to settle Nova Scotia, which the British had founded as a naval and military base, and a special document of the British Parliament from 1749 recognized the Moravians as an ancient Episcopal church through which they would be able to explore the New World.
It was a win-win situation. The British would gain new colonies and strive to establish regular life in them, and the missionaries would satisfy their desire to open new missions.
The first mission was in Nain, near which they found labradorite in pebbles. From 1771 to 1960, the Moravians helped the Inuit (Eskimos) who lived in the Labrador area, and during that time they managed to open 9 mission stations. Hopedal and Hebron , two historic Canadian towns, were named after the Moravians of the same name who survived Labrador's harsh climate, very similar to the Arctic climate.
What are the characteristics of labradorite?
In the same year that labradorite was discovered, Father Adolf , one of the previously mentioned Moravian missionaries, described its properties.
What makes labradorite highly prized by mineralogists is the stunning iridescence of its surface colors , which is where the name labradorite comes from.
This mineral has:
- iridescent colors
- silky shiny sheen .
There are several degrees of color iridescence in labradorite, and the high degree is called spectrolite .
Legends about labradorite
Labradorite was once buried in the fields in Finland. In a time when modern religions did not exist, the population of that time worshipped powerful spirits of the land, and labradorite was considered the most valuable stone for offering to the spirits.
In Scandinavia and other northern countries, it is said that labradorite fell from the Aurora Borealis , which is also characterized by an indescribable play of colors and gradients.
The Inuit , an indigenous people (Eskimos), attributed mystical qualities to labradorite precisely because of its attractive play of gorgeous colors. To them, it was not an ordinary stone but a " fire rock" , and its powder was used as a magic potion in folk medicine.
An Inuit legend says that a nomadic warrior found the Northern Lights trapped in rocks along the coast of Labrador. With just one powerful blow of his spear, he released most of the light, and this is the light that can still be seen at night in the northern sky today – the Aurora Borealis . However, the smaller part of the light that was not released by the spear remained forever trapped in the beautiful labradorite. That is why today we enjoy its color. A wonderful legend, isn't it!?
Another legend says that all the stars once lived on Earth, and their refuge was in rocks. Some “Powerful Being” crushed the rocks with a huge hammer, and almost all the stars flew into the sky. Only a few of them remained to live in the rocks. These are the dazzling colors, and it is precisely because of them that I often make unique labradorite jewelry .
Uses of labradorite
Labradorite was originally used for magical and religious rites and to decorate buildings. Architecture envisaged labradorite for: interfaces, decorative panels and tiles.
Nowadays, labradorite of the highest quality is used for decorative items and jewelry, especially the already mentioned highly aesthetic labradorite from Madagascar, which mineralogists call "Madagascar spectrolite" .
I love making everything: rings , earrings , bracelets , necklaces , but also jewelry sets made from this type of stone. I just recently made a brooch in which three indescribably beautiful labradorites play the main role , and labradorite also inspired me to make an evening bag that I spent a lot of time on.
What does astrology say about labradorite?
Astrology recommends labradorite to Cancers, Capricorns, Aquarians and Pisces because it is considered a symbol of intuition, meditation and an aura that, like an envelope, protects against negative influences and malicious thoughts of other people .
It helps therapists working with patients because of the shield that prevents the penetration of negative energy. Its action releases energy in any larger room. It cleans the negative energy in the space where we live.
Astrologers say that this stone is a loner, i.e. an individual who cannot tolerate other stones in its vicinity, except for its own subspecies.
What do changes and self-belief have to do with labradorite?
With labradorite by your side , faith in your own abilities and trust in your own consciousness are strengthened . It strengthens intuition and "whispers" to us when it is the "right moment" to initiate change, say something, decide or do something. It gives strength and perseverance, so it is recommended to wear it when you want to make a change or are going through a change that you did not really want.
Mystical labradorite
Labradorite is a mystical stone. It is a mineral that seeks the eternal source of life , signals and thoughts from other worlds and the universe, so we are talking about its transcendent role .
It allows us to meditatively return to our childhood , revives faded images of childhood, but also events from that earliest period that marked us negatively, and helps to remove blockages that we carry within us from that earliest period.
It breaks down illusions to the root of the problem, but also leads us step by step to the realization of ideas . Namely, labradorite mentally expands our horizons and horizons of knowledge.
Increases : concentration, intuition, intellect, discernment, memory, psychic wisdom and ability, psychic strength, patience, rational thinking, self-awareness, spirituality, self-esteem ...
Business success and wealth
Whoever wears labradorite will amass material wealth and achieve business success . If you notice that one of your business partners in the office has a stone with the described characteristics, it is obvious that they believe in its power. I recommend that you combine the pleasant and the useful, i.e. the beautiful and the useful – jewelry or a useful object made of labradorite that will highlight your outfit or interior, and will also perform its function in terms of business success and material wealth.
Labradorite awakens creativity and originality
Labradorite is a stone for creative people because it awakens imagination and readiness for new ideas and encourages the creation of original ideas . However, it also calms a hyperactive mind. Labradorite inspires. While researching this fantastic stone, I realized why I am so fascinated by it and why creativity especially "attacks" me when I am near it.
Labradorite affects public speaking skills
Astrologers recommend it to people who are engaged in oratory professions such as speakers, announcers, journalists or politicians because it has a positive effect on the ability to express oneself properly. They say that it is effective when kept with oneself during oral exams or when it is kept under the tongue for a while. Therefore, it is a good gift for pupils and students.
It is a stone of truth because it brings it to the surface and has a positive effect on the psyche.
Healing properties of labradorite
According to astrological beliefs, as well as the beliefs of northern peoples, labradorite has medicinal properties : it strengthens immunity, relieves back and bone diseases, and acts as a preventative against colds .
An elixir made from labradorite: lowers blood pressure, relieves menstrual tension, treats rheumatism and joints, balances hormones, and acts as a preventative for eye and brain diseases . Since it relaxes us through meditation, it relieves stress and thus regulates metabolism .
It helps with: gout, rheumatism, bone diseases, regulates the thymus, stimulates self-healing at the beginning of the disease and centers the spinal vertebrae.
Of course, it should be noted that labradorite is not a medically proven drug, but these are the properties attributed to this mineral in astrological and alternative medicine terms.
How is labradorite cleaned and charged?
Labradorite should only be cleaned under a stream of lukewarm water if you want it to retain its properties. It is very sensitive to sudden changes in light. Therefore, it should only be charged for one hour in direct sunlight in a container of water.
Almost as fascinated by labradorite as I am, a famous jeweler from Labrador gave one of the most beautiful descriptions of labradorite, with which I will best end this blog:
“ …a luxurious blue and bronze-shining feldspar, shimmering in the sunlight like a peacock feather; its colors are unique and beautiful… Every time you look at it from a different angle, you will see new magnificent, dazzling and beautiful colors .”
Your Dalia