The feldspar groups of minerals are important for the place they take in the formation of rocks, but several varieties of the various groups supply gemstones – one example of particular interest being Labradorite.

Labradorite

Labradorite is a variety of feldspar noted for the brilliant play of colour which flashes out over large areas of the grey-coloured mineral, blue, yellow, gold, red and purple are some of the other colours displayed by specimens of this versatile gemstone.

Some Labradorite has Hematite inclusions. The flashes of colour show best in flat polished plates, and an Opal-like effect is shown by carved Labradorite.

The normal rock-like Labradorite is found as extensive masses in the vicinity of Nairn on the coast of Labrador, hence the name. Other sources are in Newfoundland, along the shore of Lake Huron at Cape Mahul, at Abercrombie and at Morin in Quebec, Canada. There are sources of the mineral in the Ukraine and in the Ural Mountains in Russia. Labradorite is found in small quantities in Arkansas, New Mexico and Vermont in the USA.

View Labradorite Jewellery at Astley Clarke