Georgia’s got no shortage of hidden gems, and labradorite is one of the flashier ones—literally. This feldspar mineral can catch the light just right and throw off flashes of blue, green, gold, even purple, depending on the piece.

There are spots across the state where you can find labradorite in the rough, especially tucked into certain pegmatites and metamorphic rock outcrops. The trick is knowing which places have that kind of geology.

Whether you’re into rockhounding for the science, the beauty, or just the excuse to be outside, labradorite hunting hits all the marks. Here are the best spots in Georgia where this colorful mineral has been known to make an appearance.

How Labradorite Forms Here

Labradorite forms deep underground when magma slowly cools and crystallizes. The process happens when different minerals separate while cooling, creating thin layers stacked on top of each other. These layers have slightly different chemical makeups, usually about 1 micron thick.

When light hits these layers, it creates that stunning blue-green flash we love, called labradorescence. The stone starts out as a mix of calcium, sodium, aluminum, and silicate minerals.

As it cools, these minerals organize themselves into this layered pattern, which happens most often in places where magma intrudes into the surrounding rock. It’s like nature’s own light show, frozen in stone.

Types of Labradorite

Labradorite comes in several distinct varieties. Each type exhibits special qualities that make it sought after by collectors.

Blue Labradorite

Blue Labradorite stands out for its remarkable blue iridescence against a dark gray or black background. When light hits the stone’s surface, it creates a stunning display of electric blue flashes, sometimes accompanied by hints of green or violet.

The blue flashes appear most vivid when viewing the stone from specific angles, creating an almost magical transformation as you rotate it. This effect is often compared to the ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights.

Exceptional specimens display an intense, electric blue flash that covers a large portion of the stone’s surface. Some pieces also show secondary colors like aqua or sea green, adding depth to their visual appeal. The contrast between the dark base and bright blue flashes makes each piece unique.

Golden Labradorite

Golden Labradorite displays a mesmerizing golden-yellow sheen that sets it apart from other varieties. The stone’s surface exhibits brilliant flashes of gold and amber, creating a warm, sun-like glow that seems to emanate from within. These golden rays often appear alongside subtle hints of green or champagne colors.

What makes Golden Labradorite special is its ability to display multiple golden hues simultaneously. Some specimens show a range of colors from pale yellow to deep amber, creating a multi-dimensional effect.

The golden flash can vary in intensity and coverage, with premium specimens showing broad, bright areas of gold schiller.

Rainbow Moonstone

Rainbow Moonstone Labradorite exhibits a distinctive white or colorless base with an enchanting blue sheen that floats across its surface. Blue sheen is often accompanied by flashes of other colors, including pink, yellow, and green.

This stone’s most captivating feature is how its colors appear to float just beneath the surface, creating an almost three-dimensional effect. As light moves across the stone, these colors shift and change, revealing new patterns and combinations. This creates a dynamic display that seems to change with every movement.

The stone’s transparency can range from translucent to semi-transparent, with the most valued pieces showing excellent clarity beneath their shimmering surface.

Spectrolite

Spectrolite reigns as the most dramatic member of this stone family, with its distinctive jet-black base setting it apart from other varieties.

What makes it truly special is that premium specimens can simultaneously display the complete spectrum of colors, from deep indigo to bright orange, emerald green to royal purple, all in a single piece.

The finest specimens possess what experts call “full-face color,” meaning the vibrant display covers most of the stone’s surface rather than appearing in small patches.

This characteristic, combined with its remarkable color intensity, has earned Spectrolite its reputation as the most visually impressive variety of all similar stones.

Transparent Labradorite

Transparent Labradorite exhibits a remarkable clarity that separates it from its opaque cousins. Crystal-clear areas allow light to pass through, creating an exceptional display of blue flashes against the transparent background.

Natural specimens often show areas of both transparency and translucency. Beautiful color changes occur as you move this stone, with the transparent areas revealing subtle blue sheens that seem to float within the crystal.

Some pieces display additional colors like soft greens or pale yellows, though the blue flash remains dominant.

Remarkable clarity combines with the signature color play to create stones that appear almost liquid-like.

Andesine-Labradorite

Reddish-orange hues dominate Andesine-Labradorite’s appearance, creating a warm and inviting glow. Delicate green and yellow streaks often appear throughout the stone, adding complexity to its color palette.

Metallic sparkles dance across the surface, different from the typical labradorescent effect. Fresh discoveries of this relatively new gemstone continue to reveal new color combinations.

Striking color variations appear in high-quality pieces, ranging from deep red to bright orange. Many specimens show subtle color zoning, where different hues blend together in distinct patterns.

Black Labradorite

Black Labradorite presents a dramatic dark canvas that emphasizes its colorful display. Bright flashes of color stand out dramatically against the deep black background, creating stunning visual contrast.

Most specimens show multiple colors at once, creating an eye-catching display. These color displays often include electric blues, emerald greens, and golden yellows, all visible simultaneously.

Natural sunlight brings out the boldest displays, while artificial light can highlight subtle color variations. Some specimens also show interesting patterns in how the colors are distributed.

Brown Labradorite

Brown Labradorite features rich earth tones ranging from deep chocolate to warm amber. Peach and orange undertones often appear throughout the stone, creating depth and dimension.

Multiple color zones create interesting patterns within each stone. These patterns can include stripes, swirls, or mottled areas that combine different brown and orange hues.

Subtle iridescence sometimes appears on the surface, adding an unexpected shimmer to the earthy colors. This effect is more subdued than in other varieties but adds an interesting dimension to the stone’s appearance.

What Rough Labradorite Look like?

Labradorite in its rough form can be tricky to spot, but once you know what to look for, it becomes easier. Here’s how to recognize this fascinating stone in its natural state.

Look for the Signature Flash

Raw labradorite often shows patches of its famous iridescent flash, even when unpolished. Check dark gray or black areas under direct sunlight – you might catch glimpses of blue, green, or gold shimmer.

Sometimes, you’ll need to wet the surface slightly to see this effect better. The flash isn’t always obvious but usually appears as scattered patches.

Check the Base Color and Texture

The main body should be dark gray to black, sometimes with a slight greenish tinge. The surface feels smooth but not glossy, similar to unpolished glass.

Look for a slightly bumpy texture with occasional flat surfaces. Fresh breaks will show a more uniform color than weathered surfaces.

Assess the Hardness and Breakage

Try scratching the surface with a copper penny – it shouldn’t leave a mark. The stone often breaks with smooth, flat surfaces at distinct angles.

You’ll notice these angular breaks are pretty characteristic, unlike random rough breaks in common rocks.

Test the Translucency

Hold a thin edge up to strong light. Raw labradorite should show some translucency, appearing slightly cloudy rather than completely opaque. The edges might look slightly whitish or gray when light passes through. Thicker pieces will appear darker and more opaque.

A Quick Request About Collecting

Tips on Where to Look

Labradorite isn’t super common in everyday places, but with some smart searching, you can find it. Here’s where you should look:

Metamorphic Rock Formations

Look for dark-colored rock outcrops. Spot areas with lots of feldspar minerals. Check exposed cliff faces. Sometimes, when the sun hits just right, you might catch that signature blue flash from larger formations that’s a dead giveaway for labradorite presence.

Glacial Deposits

Search river beds after glacial deposits. Check gravel pits near old glacial paths. Look for smooth, dark gray stones mixed with other rocks. These deposits often contain chunks of labradorite that have broken off from larger formations and been carried downstream over thousands of years.

Mining Tailings

Visit abandoned feldspar mines. Check mine dump areas. Dig through tailings piles. Look for flat, shiny surfaces. The waste rock from old mining operations often contains overlooked pieces of labradorite that weren’t considered valuable during active mining periods but are perfect for collectors.

Stream Beds

Search clear-water streams. Look under water-worn rocks. Check gravel bars after rain. Spot dark, plate-like stones. The constant water movement often exposes and polishes these stones, making them easier to identify when wet.

Some Great Places To Start

Here are some of the better places in the state to start looking for Labradorite:

Graves Mountain

Graves Mountain sits in Lincoln County, near the South Carolina border. This famous geological site has drawn rockhounds for decades because of its special mineral deposits. The mountain was formed through unusual geological processes that created an environment rich in rare minerals.

Visitors can find various minerals at Graves Mountain, including rutile, kyanite, lazulite, and iridescent hematite. Labradorite specimens can also be discovered here among the mix of minerals. The mountain was once an active mining site where rutile and kyanite were extracted for industrial use.

Make sure to explore the designated collecting areas during organized rockhounding events. These special dig days happen several times yearly when the site opens to collectors.

Each area of the mountain offers different mineral possibilities, so moving around the site improves your chances of finding good specimens. Many collectors consider Graves Mountain a must-visit location for serious mineral enthusiasts in the southeastern United States.

Union Point

Union Point is a small city in eastern Greene County. This area is known for its gently rolling terrain and sits near the Ogeechee River. Historically, it was an important railroad junction, which helped develop the area.

Labradorite has been found in this region, along with other interesting minerals like chalcopyrite and malachite. These discoveries make Union Point a worthwhile stop for rock collectors.

The Tuggle Mine, located northeast of Union Point, is the best spot to look for labradorite. This old mine has a rich history of mineral findings that attract rock enthusiasts from various places.

When searching for labradorite at Union Point, check the creek beds near the Tuggle Mine area. Look also in exposed rock formations around the mine site. Local rock shops in Greene County sometimes offer maps to the best collecting spots around Union Point.

Burton

Burton is located in Rabun County, in the northeastern corner of Georgia. This small community is near Lake Burton, a beautiful man-made reservoir surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Labradorite has been discovered in this mineral-rich area.

The region belongs to the Blue Ridge geological province, famous for its ancient metamorphic rocks formed millions of years ago.

You can find labradorite in several spots around Burton. Check exposed rock outcrops near Lake Burton’s shoreline where weathering has revealed the underlying layers. Local streams and creek beds also offer good hunting grounds.

Many rockhounds visit during spring and fall when water levels are lower, making it easier to spot the distinctive blue-green flash that makes labradorite special. Bring along a spray bottle of water to help identify specimens; wetting the stone often brings out its characteristic play of colors.

Hart Area

The Hart Area sits in the northeastern part of the state where the Seneca and Tugaloo Rivers join to create the Savannah River. This region shows off mature terrain with deeply weathered rocks, making it perfect for gem hunters.

Labradorite has been found in Hart County. Local rocks include several types that interest collectors, such as biotite-plagioclase gneisses and staurolite-mica schists.

Unique to this area are the granitic rocks and feldspathic amphibolite gneiss that form the backbone of the landscape. These rocks often display special textures that help gemstones form.

Collectors looking for labradorite should check out Little Shoal Creek and the area around Oak Bower Church. Both spots have histories of good mineral findings.

Elbert Area

The Elbert Area lies within the Piedmont region. It features rolling hills and is famous as the “Granite Capital of the World” because of its large granite deposits. This area has a rich history of mineral hunting, including discoveries of labradorite specimens.

Elbert County stands out for its pegmatite formations, which were created millions of years ago when magma cooled slowly underground. These special rock formations contain many different minerals packed together in large crystals.

You can search for labradorite near the Bethlehem Church area in Elbert County. Here, the pegmatite rocks often contain this beautiful gemstone alongside other minerals like feldspar, mica, and quartz.

Many local quarries in the region expose fresh rock surfaces where new specimens might be found.

Places Labradorite has been found by County

After discussing our top picks, we wanted to discuss the other places on our list. Below is a list of the additional locations along with a breakdown of each place by county.