Rocks come in many shapes and colors. Some dazzle with their beauty while others sit plain and unnoticed. Labradorite stands out as one of those shiny gems that catch the eye right away.

Finding this stone takes time and effort. Not every hill or stream bed will give up these treasures easily. But when sunlight hits a piece just right, showing off its blue-green flash, the search feels worth it.

This guide points to spots where others have had luck before. These areas sit scattered across Nevada, from dusty desert floors to rocky mountain slopes. Each place offers a chance to dig up something special to take home.

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:

Black Mountains

The Black Mountains are in the northern part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. This mountain range has 26 peaks with Mount Perkins being the tallest at 5,456 feet.

The mountains are mostly made of volcanic rock like basalt lava flows and rhyolite domes. The area is dry with very little plant life, making the rocky landscape stand out.

Boulder Canyon in the Black Mountains is where rockhounds can find labradorite. This special mineral is usually found in dark igneous rocks like basalt, which are common in this area. When looking for labradorite here, check exposed rock outcrops and areas where weathering has revealed fresh rock surfaces.

Besides labradorite, you might also discover other minerals like gypsum, iron, and manganese in the Black Mountains. The hot, dry climate makes this a good spot for rock collecting most of the year.

Pershing Area

Pershing County lies in northwestern Nevada and contains several mountain ranges, including the Humboldt Range and Selenite Range. The land here has a mix of different rock types, sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous, creating perfect conditions for various minerals to form.

A special feature of Pershing County is the Majuba Hill area. Here you’ll find a large rhyolitic plug about 5,000 feet across. This volcanic formation is cut through by many quartz veins. The county has also experienced earthquakes, like the 1915 Pleasant Valley quake that left visible fault lines along the Tobin Range.

Labradorite hunters should head to the Placerites Mining District in Pershing County. This area has been identified as a key location where this beautiful feldspar mineral can be found. The district’s complex geology created ideal conditions for labradorite formation.

Barth Mine

The Barth Mine sits in the Safford Mining District of Nevada at about 4,800 feet elevation. Located where Safford and Palisade Canyons meet, this mine was once served by the nearby Barth railroad siding, making it easy to ship minerals out.

Different minerals make the Barth Mine special. Iron ores like hematite and magnetite are common here, along with minerals such as calcite and apatite. The presence of hypersthene shows that intense heat played a role in creating the mine’s unique geology. These conditions helped form the labradorite found here.

The best labradorite pieces are found in sections where the metamorphic rock contains concentrated feldspar minerals.

Elko District

The Elko District covers northeastern Nevada within the Basin and Range Province. This large area includes the Ruby Mountains and high desert plateaus. Rock collectors visit this region because of its wide variety of minerals and interesting geology.

Past volcanic activity left behind extensive rhyolite and basalt flows that contribute to the district’s rich mineral deposits.

Labradorite can be found in several specific locations. The Tuscarora Mining District contains volcanic rocks that may host this mineral. Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains offers chances to find labradorite in loose rock at the bottom of slopes.

Harrison Pass south of the Ruby Mountains is another good spot with volcanic rocks that often contain this colorful feldspar.

Eureka Area

Eureka County sits along the Battle Mountain-Eureka-Cortez gold trend in Nevada. The town of Eureka was a major mining center in the mid-1800s, famous for its lead, silver, and gold deposits. Today, it remains an important area for both historical mining interest and modern mineral collection.

Rock formations in Eureka include a mix of sedimentary layers, igneous intrusions, and metamorphic rocks. Hot water flowing through cracks in these rocks over millions of years created the rich mineral deposits that made this area famous. This diverse geology makes Eureka County an excellent place for rockhounding.

Labradorite hunters should explore the Fish Creek Range and the Roberts Mountains in the Eureka area. These ranges contain the right kinds of igneous and metamorphic rocks where labradorite typically forms.

Focus your search on areas with dark-colored gabbroic and basaltic rocks, as these are most likely to contain this iridescent mineral.

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.