sodalite

[ sohd-l-ahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, sodium aluminum silicate, Na 4 Al 3 Si 3 O 1 2 Cl, occurring massive and in crystals, usually blue in color and found in certain alkali-rich igneous rocks.

sodalite

/ ˈsəʊdəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a blue, grey, yellow, or colourless mineral consisting of sodium aluminium silicate and sodium chloride in cubic crystalline form. It occurs in basic igneous rocks. Formula: Na 4 Al 3 Si 3 O 12 Cl

Word History and Origins

Origin of sodalite¹

First recorded in 1800–10; soda + -lite

Word History and Origins

Origin of sodalite¹

C19: from soda + -lite

Example Sentences

Fragments of a sodalite-syenite have also been found at Soca in the same neighbourhood.

From Project Gutenberg

Section of sodalite crystal from the lava of 1794, with belonites and crystals of magnetite enclosed.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of them also contain nepheline, sodalite, hauyne and nosean; the much rarer mineral melilite appears also in some examples.

From Project Gutenberg

Sodalite or hauyne may also be present, but nepheline is typically absent.

From Project Gutenberg

These last consist of an intermixture of nepheline or sodalite and alkali-felspar.

From Project Gutenberg