Definition

Noun: A typically blue, vitreous (glassy) mineral composed of sodium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, and chlorine. Its chemical composition is sodium aluminum silicate with sodium chloride. It is a member of the feldspathoid group and commonly occurs in igneous rocks.

Usage

Sodalite is used primarily as a reference in geology and mineralogy to identify a specific mineral species. It is also used as a decorative stone and in jewelry.

Examples

• Geologists identified the blue crystals in the rock sample as sodalite.
• The museum's collection features a magnificent specimen of deep blue sodalite.
• Sodalite is often polished and used for carvings and ornamental objects.

Advanced Usage

• Sodalite group: Refers to a group of related minerals with similar crystal structures, including sodalite, nosean, hauyne, and lazurite (the main component of lapis lazuli).
• Sodalite syenite: A type of igneous rock rich in sodalite.

Variants and Related Words

• Sodalite-rich (adj): Describing a rock containing a high proportion of sodalite.
  • The outcrop consisted of a sodalite-rich nepheline syenite.

Synonyms

• Mineral (this is the general category, not a direct synonym)

Different Meanings

The word "sodalite" has no other common meanings. It refers exclusively to this specific mineral.

Idioms

There are no common idioms using the word "sodalite".

Phrasal Verbs

There are no phrasal verbs using the word "sodalite".

Noun

1. a vitreous mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate and sodium chloride in crystalline form; occurs in igneous rocks