Indiana might not be the first state that comes to mind for rock hunting. But hidden within its landscape are spots where labradorite can be found.

Labradorite is a type of feldspar mineral that many collectors love. It’s not super common in Indiana, which makes finding it kind of special. Some folks travel across the state just to add this rock to their collection.

You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy looking for labradorite. Many people make a day trip out of it and bring along friends or family. The areas where you might find this mineral also offer nice views and a chance to spend time outdoors.

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:

Huntington

Huntington is a city in the northeastern part of the state, located along the Wabash River about 25 miles southwest of Fort Wayne. This area sits at an elevation of around 791 feet above sea level and features mostly flat to gently rolling land.

Make sure to explore the Huntington Quarry. The quarry’s exposed rock layers reveal parts of the Wabash Formation, known for its diverse sedimentary deposits.

Many enthusiasts also check the banks of the Wabash River after heavy rains, when water movement can uncover new specimens. Glacial activity from thousands of years ago brought various rocks and minerals to this region, creating unexpected finds for careful searchers.

Maumee River

The Maumee River starts in Fort Wayne, where two smaller rivers join together. This 137-mile river flows through Indiana and Ohio before emptying into Lake Erie. People hunting for stones love the Maumee’s gravel bars, where Labradorite hides among Agate, Jasper, and fossilized coral.

Thousands of years ago, huge ice sheets moved across this area, bringing different rocks from Canada. The famous Maumee Megaflood then spread these treasures throughout the riverbed.

Summer is the best time to search when water levels drop, making more gravel bars appear. Many rockhounds check areas near Fort Wayne and New Haven, where the river curves and deposits more stones.

Local rock clubs often plan group trips here during July and August. Bringing a small garden rake helps sift through gravel piles where the shiny Labradorite pieces are most likely to collect.

Brown Area

Brown County is located in southern Indiana and is known for its beautiful hills and valleys. The area includes the popular Brown County State Park, nicknamed the “Little Smokies” because it looks like the Great Smoky Mountains. Visitors come for both nature walks and stone-hunting adventures.

Ancient waters once covered this entire region, leaving behind layers that turned into sandstone and siltstone. These rocks form the Borden Group, which creates the hills that make Brown County special.

You can also head to the Copperhead Creek Gem Mine in Nashville, a small town within Brown County.

Searching for labradorite at Copperhead Creek can be a great experience because the mine provides all equipment needed. The mine offers a fun way to learn about Indiana’s rocks while also keeping everyone entertained.

Bedford

Bedford is a city in Lawrence County, about 25 miles south of Bloomington. This area is famous as the “Limestone Capital of the World” because of its many limestone quarries.

Salem Limestone from Bedford is special. It was used to build famous buildings like the Empire State Building and the Pentagon. The stone formed millions of years ago during the Mississippian age when this area was covered by ancient seas.

Check the roadcuts along State Route 37, where rock layers are exposed. Local quarries sometimes allow collecting in certain areas when operations aren’t running. The Big Rock Park area also offers good spots to search for this flashy feldspar mineral.

Corydon

Corydon, in Harrison County, is a small historic town in the southern part of the state. This area, just 25 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, was actually Indiana’s first state capital from 1816 to 1825.

The town sits on fascinating geology. Limestone dominates the landscape, creating a karst topography with sinkholes, caves, and underground streams. Indian Creek flows through town before eventually reaching the Ohio River.

Labradorite hunters should check out the Corydon Stone Co. Quarry northwest of town. This quarry has yielded good specimens in the past. The area also offers other minerals like calcite, fluorite, dolomite, and quartz, making it worth the trip even if labradorite proves elusive.

Look for labradorite in the quarry’s exposed rock faces and among loose materials. The mineral’s distinctive blue-green flash helps identify it among the limestone and other rocks.

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.