Our next publication under the heading "Stone of the Month" is about the July sodalite.

Sodalite is a semi-precious mineral rarely found in nature. The history of its emergence has not been fully explored and holds many mysteries. The gem cannot leave anyone indifferent. Its glassy lustre and magical blue shimmers attract not only mineralogists and collectors, but also magicians, since, according to the latter, the stone has exceptional supernatural abilities.

The name of the stone comes from the English word “soda”. The first mention of sodalite dates back to 1811. Despite its relatively short history, the stone was known to mankind long before it received its modern name. The population of ancient Egypt used the mineral as a material for decorating ritual attributes, and the Indians of South America used it for lining the walls and floors of houses, created statuettes and jewelry of it, as well as a mineral base for obtaining blue paint. Sodalite is a transparent or translucent mineral of spectacular blue color with white spots and veins. Rare specimens of the stone include crystals of yellow, pink, red, blue, green and grey shades. The most unusual sodalite is red semi-precious stone, which have the ability to darken when exposed to oxygen, acquiring the black shade. These crystals were discovered in the early 20^th century by the Finnish geologist Victor Hackman (1866–1941). To commemorate the name of their discoverer in 1903, the minerals became known as Hackmanites.

Sodalite is a mineral of medium hardness. Its hardness on the Mohs scale reaches 6 units. In addition to the above characteristics, the distinctive features of the gem are: glassy fat lustre and white color of the inclusions.

Sodalite of blue color is widely used in the jewelry industry to create a variety of inserts and cabochons. Gemstones of other shades serve as an ornamental material for making caskets, figurines, mosaics and other elements of interior decoration.
Sodalite is a mineral with pronounced photochromic properties, i.e. it changes its transparency and color depending on the brightness of light. This feature allows it to be used in the television and radio industry.

Sodalite is now mined in Eurasia, North and South America. Its largest deposits are located in the USA, Canada, Brazil, India, Portugal, Italy, Romania and Germany. In the Russian Federation, the mineral is mined on the Kola Peninsula.

Sodalite is believed to have unique healing properties that allow it to be used in the treatment of many ailments. Lithotherapists recommend patients suffering from arterial hypertension, heart and vascular diseases to pay attention to this stone. Blue sodalite has the ability to reduce cravings for food and restore metabolism, so jewellery with it should be worn by people who want to get slim without strict diets. Bracelets, beads and pendants with the stone will help to get rid of nervous tension and normalise sleep. They return calmness to a person, protect from stress and depression. The gemstone is also suitable for those who have been diagnosed with abnormalities in the liver, pancreas, kidneys. Sodalite normalises the lymphatic system, neutralises the negative effects of radioactive radiation and strengthens bone tissue. Regular looking at the blue stone improves vision and normalises intraocular pressure. Applied to the injured place sodalite can reduce pain and accelerate the healing process.

The magical properties of the sodalite deserve special mentioning, as they help a person to discover and develop supernatural abilities. It is not without reason that sorcerers, mediums and esotericists treat this gem with special reverence. It is applied in various magical rituals, used in spiritualistic sessions and meditation. In some countries there is a widespread belief that a woman wearing sodalite jewellery will become better and more popular with the opposite sex day after day. For a man, the stone will help him to become wise and judicious, teach him to make the right decisions in complicated circumstances and achieve the set goals.

In order to get rid of anxious thoughts and find mental balance, magicians advise to wear rings made of blue sodalite. For magical purposes, you can use not only jewellery, but also decorative items with the mineral (vases, statuettes, stands, etc.). Such items will prevent discord in the family, keep love between spouses. If someone living in the house is in danger, the mineral will definitely warn about it by changing its colour. Sodalite as a talisman is ideal for tutors, teachers, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs. Representatives of these professions do not need to mount the gem in gold. To change their lives for the better, it is enough for them to carry in their pockets or bags an unprocessed mineral of small size, which will help its owner to be in harmony with the world around him, will attract good luck and happiness.

According to astrologers, sodalite is compatible with all signs of the zodiac. Experts recommend buying jewellery with sodalite for people who need to keep their temper and composure – doctors, lawyers, law enforcement officers, firemen.

The museum collection section “Lapidary Works of Art and Ivories” features a variety of items carved of sodalite, we offer you a detailed look at some of them.

On the cover: Hyacinth Ara couple. Peter Muller. Brazil. The 20th century
Persian cat. Manfred Wild, Emile Becker firm. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20^th century
Blue Shrubby jay. Georg Wild. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20^th century
Three kingfishers on an ice floe. Peter Muller. Brazil. The 20^th century