Picture yourself in a mysterious forest, and you find a rock that seems to hold the night sky within it. With its beauty, this rock could be any of these two: larvikite and labradorite.

One holds a deep, dark mystery with flashes of light that dance across its surface, while the other shows off brilliant colors that change as you turn it in your hand. But beyond their captivating looks, where do larvikite vs labradorite differ?

In this article, you’ll learn all about the similarities that make them seem so alike at first glance and the differences between larvikite and labradorite that help carve their unique identities.

You’ll also gain knowledge on some very handy tips when it comes to telling these two stones apart. We’ll dig deep into their worlds to discover the wonders of larvikite and labradorite. Let’s get started!

Larvikite vs Labradorite – The Major Differences

At first sight, it’s easy to mistake a piece of larvikite for labradorite and vice versa. But did you know that these two have more differences than similarities? Here are some of the major categories where they differ:

Color – Labradorite exhibit labradorescence

When you look at larvikite and labradorite, it’s like they’re playing a game of hide-and-seek with colors.

Larvikite is like the night sky, mostly a mix of dark gray or black. When the light hits it just right, it’s as if stars twinkle back at you in shades of blue or silver.

That shimmering effect? It’s because of tiny bits in the stone that reflect light. People often call this the schiller effect. It’s like the stone has its secret light show that only shows up under the spotlight.

Switching over to labradorite, it’s got a cool trick called labradorescence. Think of it as a color party. When light dives into the stone, it bounces around inside and then leaps back out in flashy colors. Blues, greens, golds, and oranges all at once.

It’s not just one color that stands out— it’s a whole rainbow! The colors change from different angles, too, as you turn it in your hand.

The colors they both have aren’t just pretty to look at. They also tell a story about what the stones are made of and how they grew.

Luster – Larvikite has a subvitreous to resinous luster

Rocks have their version of glossiness, and it’s called luster. When we talk about the luster of larvikite and labradorite, we’re talking about how they shine when light plays on their surfaces.

Larvikite has a luster that’s kind of like if you rubbed a little bit of oil on a countertop. It’s not super shiny like a mirror, but it has a gentle glow that looks smooth and feels a bit waxy if you touch it.

This subtle sheen is what makes it seem like it’s keeping its sparkles just under the surface, ready to surprise you with a flash when you move it around in the light.

On the flip side, labradorite is the rock star of sparkle. It has what we call vitreous luster, which means it shines like glass. When light hits it, it’s like the sun shining on the ocean, all bright and glimmering.

Sometimes, it can even look pearly, especially when its labradorescence kicks in. That’s when the stone truly comes alive with shine, almost as if it’s lit up from the inside.

Crystal structure – Labradorite has a triclinic crystal structure

Even though you can’t see them without a microscope, every mineral’s got crystals, and they’re all put together in a special pattern. These patterns aren’t just random; they’re what give minerals like larvikite and labradorite their unique look and feel.

Larvikite’s crystals are tight-knit. They’re super close, which makes the rock look solid and kind of grainy.

You know when you pack a snowball really tight, and it feels hard? That’s because the snowflakes are all squished together, just like the crystals in larvikite.

Labradorite, on the other hand, has crystals that don’t line up in neat rows. Instead, they’re all over the place, which is actually what helps the rock do its flashy color-changing trick.

This difference in how their crystals are arranged is a big deal because it’s what makes larvikite and labradorite look and act so differently.

Cleavage – Larvikite has poor to no cleavage

Cleavage, in the rock world, is all about how a stone breaks. It’s a sneak peek into how a rock’s crystals are glued together.

Think of larvikite as that tough cookie that doesn’t crumble easily. If you tried to split it, it would break in a random, rugged way, not along smooth, flat surfaces. That’s because its crystals are like a tight-knit family, holding on to each other strongly.

This means that if you dropped a piece of larvikite, it wouldn’t split along neat lines but would break apart in a more haphazard, rough pattern.

Now, picture labradorite as a book with really defined pages. If you were to open this book and try to take it apart, it would likely split along the pages or layers. It can break along two special directions.

This doesn’t mean labradorite is weak. It’s just that its crystal structure is built in a way that there are clear paths along which it prefers to break.

Composition – Labradorite is a plagioclase feldspar

Every rock has its own recipe that makes it special. Larvikite and labradorite are like two different cakes made from similar ingredients but in different amounts.

Larvikite is like a cake mostly made with one type of flour called sodium, which is also known as feldspar. This rock might have tiny bits of other stuff mixed in, like shiny specks of quartz that catch the light, but it’s mostly that one main ingredient.

Labradorite, on the other hand, is like a cake that’s mixed with two types of flour—sodium and calcium. This mix is called a plagioclase feldspar.

It’s not just the mix that’s different, but how it’s put together. Imagine sprinkles of different colors inside the cake— that’s what gives labradorite its famous color flashes when you look at it from different angles.

Density – Larvikite is denser

Density is all about how much stuff is packed into a rock. If you’ve ever picked up a heavy backpack and then a lighter one, you’ve felt density without even knowing it.

Larvikite is kind of like that heavier backpack. It’s got more stuff packed inside it, which makes it denser.

This doesn’t mean you can’t lift it, but if you had a chunk of larvikite and a chunk of labradorite the same size, larvikite would feel a bit heavier in your hand.

Labradorite is like the lighter backpack. It’s not as tightly packed with stuff as larvikite. Sure, it’s still a rock, but it has a little less mass in the same amount of space, which makes it less dense.

This difference in density is part of what makes these two rocks unique. It’s not something you can see just by looking at them, but if you get your hands on them, you’ll feel the difference.

Formation – Labradorite cools down faster during its formation

When you think about how rocks form, you might picture lava oozing from a volcano and then cooling down to become stone. That’s pretty close to how larvikite and labradorite come into the world, but they take different journeys.

Larvikite starts its life deep under the ground, where everything is hot and squishy. Over a long time, it cools down slowly from this goopy state, which lets it grow big crystals that are all packed in tight.

Because of this slow process, it ends up so dense, like a chocolate fudge that’s been in the fridge overnight.

Labradorite, though, forms from a kind of lava that doesn’t have a lot of silica. Instead, the lava is runnier, and it cools down faster than larvikite’s slow-cooking lava.

As it cools down, this rock forms big, flat crystals that can slide past each other, kind of like a deck of cards spreading out. This is what gives labradorite its flashy colors and less dense feel.

Fluorescence – Larvikite does not fluoresce

Have you ever seen things glow under a blacklight? That glow is called fluorescence, and it’s not just for cool posters in your room— it happens in rocks too.

Larvikite is pretty shy when it comes to the spotlight. If you shined a blacklight on it, it would just sit there looking the same. It doesn’t have the special stuff inside that makes it light up.

Labradorite, on the other hand, might give you a surprise. Some pieces can glow under a blacklight, showing off colors you can’t see when it’s just sitting on your desk.

It’s not a big show-off, though, and not all labradorites will have this property. Its glow depends on what’s mixed in with the rock— little bits of other minerals that light up under the UV rays.

Location – Labradorite is found in many places across the globe

Larvikite and labradorite may look alike, but their sources will take you on two very different adventures.

Larvikite would have you packing for Norway, the land of fjords, northern lights, and Vikings. That’s because it’s named after a place there called Larvik, which is pretty much the only spot on the map where this cool rock is found.

But if you were on the trail of labradorite, you’re in luck because it has been found in lots of places, from the frosty lands of Canada to the warm beaches of Madagascar. It’s also been spotted hanging around in Australia, Mexico, Norway, and the USA.

If you want to find labradorite near you, we have just the complete guide to help you.

You can also check out our article on the best rockhounding locations in the U.S. in case you’re interested in finding other rocks and minerals.

Price – Larvikite is more budget-friendly

When it comes to prices, larvikite and labradorite wear different tags.

Larvikite is the more budget-friendly one. Since it’s mostly found in Norway and isn’t as flashy as some other rocks, it’s usually not as pricey.

Its price doesn’t take away from its worth and value, though. It’s still got that subtle shine that can make your kitchen counter or piece of jewelry look great.

Labradorite, meanwhile, can be more expensive. It’s got that wow factor with its rainbow colors that can make anyone stop and stare. Because of this amazing color show, and because it’s found in more places, more people want it.

However, it’s important to remember that labradorite’s price can vary, depending on many factors as you can read in our article. One thing’s for sure, though. When you get a piece of it, you feel like you’ve got something really special.

Larvikite vs Labradorite – The Similarities

Now that we’ve gone through their striking differences, let’s discuss the important similarities that larvikite and labradorite share. You’ll be surprised that while they may look alike, their similarities are beyond what your naked eye can see.

Hardness – Labradorite and larvikite are both tough rocks

Hardness is a property in rocks that’s a big deal because it tells you how tough it is and what it can handle before it gets dinged or damaged.

Larvikite and labradorite have a similar level of hardness. Both of them are pretty tough cookies. They score around 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which is pretty solid.

That means they’re not as soft as a bar of soap but not as hard as a diamond. They can scratch glass or metal if you try, but they can also get scratched by stuff that’s harder than they are.

This similar hardness means you can use both larvikite and labradorite for a lot of the same things. They’re strong enough to be made into jewelry that you can wear every day without worrying too much.

They can also be used in buildings or countertops where you need a rock that can stand up to daily life without getting all scratched up the first time you slide a plate across it.

Streak – Larvikite and labradorite have white streaks

In geology, a streak is what you get when you scratch a rock on a piece of unglazed ceramic tile. It’s like the rock’s fingerprint, showing its true color in powder form.

And for larvikite and labradorite, their streaks are another point of similarity. Both these rocks, when you rub them on a tile, leave behind a streak that’s the same color: white.

It’s pretty neat because even though larvikite can be dark with silvery sparkles and labradorite can have all the colors of a peacock’s feather, their streaks don’t show any of that.

This white streak tells us that, deep down, these rocks are made of similar stuff. It’s a clue that, underneath all the sparkles and colors, they’re related.

It’s a simple thing, but it’s one of the ways scientists can tell that larvikite and labradorite are part of the same rock family.

Magnetism – Labradorite and larvikite are both non-magnetic

Some rocks can be attracted to magnets, but larvikite and labradorite usually aren’t the magnetic type. That’s another thing they have in common.

Both larvikite and labradorite sit pretty low on the magnetism scale. If you held a magnet up to them, they wouldn’t leap to stick to it like your fridge magnets do.

This is because they don’t have a lot of the metal minerals inside them that you’d need to make them act like magnets.

But here’s where it gets a little tricky: sometimes, these rocks might have tiny bits of magnetic minerals mixed in by accident. If larvikite or labradorite have some of these minerals, they might be a little magnetic, but they won’t be strong.

So, if you’re on a treasure hunt with a compass or a metal detector, larvikite and labradorite might not be the rocks that make your tools go wild.

Conductivity – Larvikite and labradorite are poor conductors

You know how some things let electricity flow through them easily, like the metal in wires? And then there are things like rubber gloves that don’t let electricity pass through at all.

When it comes to larvikite and labradorite, they’re more like rubber gloves. They’re not really into letting electricity zip through them. This is what we call conductivity.

Both of these rocks are pretty poor conductors. If you try to use them to power up a light bulb, you won’t get very far. Instead, they keep electricity from going where it wants to go.

This isn’t something you can see just by looking at them. It’s a hidden trait that they both share. These rocks might look like they’d be great at conducting electricity because they’re shiny and metallic-looking, but they do the opposite.

The Easiest Ways To Tell Larvikite and Labradorite Apart

Let’s say you have a rock in your hand that you think is either a larvikite or a labradorite: how do you know for sure what it is? If you don’t know the answer to this, below are some pretty simple tips you can do to tell them apart:

Pay close attention to the details of its color

When you’re trying to decipher a larvikite from a labradorite, think about what kind of colors you see.

If your rock is mostly dark gray or black and the shiny parts are playing it cool with just some blues and silvers, you’re probably holding larvikite.

But if you’re holding a labradorite, you’ll notice it doesn’t stick to just one color. Instead, it flashes colors of blue, green, gold, and sometimes even orange.

Check out the way it shines

Shine, also known as luster, is like each rock’s personal style of sparkle. It’s a great clue to tell larvikite and labradorite apart.

Imagine you’ve got a flashlight and you’re shining it on your rocks. If the rock’s surface lights up with a calm, restrained shine that seems deep and waxy, you’re probably admiring larvikite.

On the flip side, if your rock seems to grab the light and throw it back at you with gusto, shining as if it was made of tiny pieces of glass or pearls, you’re in the presence of labradorite. This rock is all about high shine.

Observe its light show

If you watch how the light dances across the surface of your rock, you’ll have a big clue if it’s larvikite or labradorite.

Larvikite has a subtler approach. When light hits it, it reveals gentle silvery or blue flashes that don’t change much as you turn the stone. It’s a reserved light show, just enough to catch your eye but not too much to draw a crowd.

Labradorite, however, puts on a dynamic performance with its light show called labradorescence. When you move a piece of it around, it’s as if it’s shifting in mood and color. This dazzling effect is certainly hard to miss.