Sodalite: The Unique Blue Mineral

Sodalite is a beautiful blue mineral known for its unique crystal structure and intriguing name derived from sodium potassium silicate alumino-hydroxide. It's part of the zeolites group of minerals, which includes over one hundred different types of crystalline materials with specific structures that allow water molecules to move slowly within them. Given this description, it might seem like sodalite isn't particularly striking, but appearances can sometimes be deceiving; despite being classified under such a broad category, each individual type has certain distinct qualities that make it interesting in its own right. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, some varieties of these minerals are also used for their practical purposes such as ion exchange in industrial processes. So while you may have heard of many more popular rocks and minerals, don't overlook the beauty and usefulness of sodalite!