I’ve been rock hunting in Oregon for years now. The forests and hills hide some sweet spots where labradorite waits to be found. My first piece came from a small creek bed when I wasn’t even looking for it.

Most folks think you need to go to Canada or Madagascar for good labradorite. Not true. Oregon has its own supply tucked away in several areas. You just need to know where to look and have a bit of patience.

This guide will take you through the best spots I’ve discovered. Some are easy to reach, others need a bit of hiking. I’ve tried to include places for both beginners and people who don’t mind getting their boots muddy.

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:

Harney Mining District

Harney Mining District is a large area in southeastern Oregon’s Harney County with a rich geology. The district includes many mining sites like the Idol City Mine, known for both placer and lode mining activities. This region’s mix of volcanic and sedimentary rocks creates perfect conditions for various minerals to form.

The district sits near the McDermitt Caldera, a massive volcanic depression famous for its mineral wealth. Rockhounds visit this area to search for minerals like agate, jasper, petrified wood, and labradorite.

For best results when hunting labradorite, check out the Idol City Mine about 20 miles northeast of Burns. Another good spot is the northwestern part of Harney County near the Ponderosa Mine, known for high-quality labradorite specimens.

Warner Valley

Warner Valley is a fault-block basin in southeastern Oregon with steep cliffs and connected lakes. The land dropped between uplifted blocks long ago, creating dramatic cliff faces that show layers of volcanic rocks. This special valley is famous for Oregon Sunstone, which is actually a type of labradorite with copper in it.

The main place to look for these stones is the Sunstone Public Collection Area run by the Bureau of Land Management. Located in the northern part of Rabbit Basin, this site lets visitors collect sunstones for personal use. The gems are found in basaltic lava flows where they formed in gas pockets as the lava cooled.

Besides the public area, several private mining claims nearby offer fee-based digging where you might find larger or more colorful stones.

Plush Area

Plush is a small community in Warner Valley, about 50 miles northeast of Lakeview in south-central Oregon. This remote high desert area with sagebrush and distant mountains is famous among gem hunters for its Oregon Sunstone, a special type of labradorite.

The geology around Plush features basalt lava flows from the Miocene epoch, creating the perfect environment for copper-bearing labradorite to form. These copper inclusions create flashes of red, green, or blue when viewed from different angles.

Several key sites near Plush are great for finding these gems. The Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area sits 25 miles north of Plush and lets people collect stones for free.

For serious collectors, the Spectrum Sunstone Mine (once owned by Tiffany & Co.) is 27 miles northeast of Plush and offers fee-based digging. In 2004, miners found a huge pocket with half a kilogram of red labradorite here. Nearby Dust Devil Mine and Double Eagle Mining also offer chances to find these special stones.

Josephine Area

Josephine County sits in the southwestern corner of Oregon with rugged terrain and a rich mining history dating back to the 1800s. The county’s location in the Klamath Mountains means it has complex rock formations, including metamorphic and igneous types.

The Lambtongue Mine (also called Baby Mine) in the Winona Mining District has documented labradorite occurrences. You can find this mine in the southeastern quarter of Section 8, Township 35 South, Range 9 West.

At this site, labradorite is found alongside other minerals such as muscovite and pyrite, making for interesting specimen collections. Reaching the mine requires traveling through rough terrain, so proper preparation is essential.

Whitehorse Ranch

Whitehorse Ranch covers a vast area in southeastern Oregon across Harney and Malheur counties. Established in 1869 by John S. Devine, this historic cattle ranch includes over 63,000 acres of private land plus grazing rights on nearly 287,000 acres of public land.

Ancient volcanic activity shaped this region’s geology, creating basaltic lava flows that now contain various minerals. Rockhounds visit this area searching for anorthite, a type of plagioclase feldspar that includes labradorite and Oregon sunstone.

Your best chance of finding good samples is to look in places where weathering and erosion have exposed mineral-rich layers in the volcanic rock. Local geological surveys can provide helpful information about specific collecting spots.

The combination of historic significance and mineral opportunities makes Whitehorse Ranch an interesting destination for both history buffs and mineral collectors hoping to find labradorite specimens.

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.