The incredible colors of Labradorite are an iridescent spectacle unlike any other. Microscopic seperations in the mineral's formation cause the reflection of light into brilliant blue, green, and even yellow coloring.

Even more incredible, these colors can shift and change as the light around the stone is moved, meaning it looks different from every angle. The effect is incredible and something everyone will be delighted to experience.

This specimen is a shaped and polished Labradorite that is refered to as a "palm stone." They are meant to be handled as rotating the surface of the stone through light is how one revealed the shimmering colors within.

These particular specimens come from Madagascar, which is home to some of the finest Labradorite deposits on Earth. They are available in three sizes, Extra Large (3"+) Large (2-3") and Small (1-2"). Both sizes ship in our sturdy shipping cartons and come with a small, black information card that also serves as the certificate of authenticity.

Please Note: We have examined each stone by hand to select specimens that are beautiful and reflect light in a variety of colors. That said, it is important to note that each stone is absolutely unique. The colors within may vary. In addition, there may be angles where the stone does not exhibit a schiller effect (i.e. shimmer). This is completely natural. The pictures and videos on this page should give you an overall idea variety of colors that can be expressed by this magnificent material.

"The superficial mutable reflection of color is particularly beautiful in Labrador stone." ~ Abraham Gottlob Werner, A Treatise on the External Characters of Fossils, 1774 (Translated from the German in 1805)

What sets labradorite apart from other silicate minerals is its inclusions of calcium, aluminum, and sodium ions. When magma containing this mixture cools slowly, the ions cause the separation of microlayers in the rock called lamellae. These separations are spaced only nanometers apart, but the gaps cause a slight irregularity on the surface. These lamellae act like a million tiny mirrors, each refracting light in a different direction.

This is known as a schiller effect and can be seen in a less dramatic way in the glint of other feldspars and silicates. Labradorite’s unique chemical makeup though lends to far more intense refraction, causing colored wavelengths of light to bounce off the mineral. The end result is the stunning colors that can be found when admiring the labradorite.

In order for the ions to separate properly, a slow cooling process is required. This means that labradorite is most commonly found in igneous rocks like basalts or gabbros. Though it was named for its source site in Canada, labradorite can be found all around the world with deposits found in Madagascar, Europe, Australia, China, and the United States.