Labradorite is a beautiful and mesmerizing feldspar mineral prized for how its colors play with each other. It often has bright shades of green, blue, gold, pink, or purple.

If the way labradorite shines has caught your eye and you want to find some for yourself, this article is just what you need. We’ll discuss the best places and ways to find this gem in the U.S., from rough terrains with natural deposits to crowded gem shows.

Also, we’ll give you tips on how to tell if something is of good quality, how to understand the different kinds of labradorite, and how to make sure you get the most for your time and money.

Let us show you the way through the fascinating world of labradorite!

What is Labradorite?

Labradorite is a beautiful feldspar mineral known for the way its colors change, called labradorescence. This shimmering effect is caused by how light bends between the thin layers inside the mineral.

This happens because of how the mineral formed. Labradorite forms in igneous rocks called anorthosites. It comes from basaltic magma.

In the U.S., the Adirondack Mountains in New York are a notable source of labradorite, with the mineral embedded within the region’s anorthosite complexes.

This alluring stone’s mystical appearance captures the essence of the geological wonders hidden beneath the American landscapes.

The different types of Labradorite

Labradorite is a gem that is known for its mesmerizing play of colors. It comes in a few different types. Each style has its colors and history, from the bright Spectrolite to the calm Rainbow Moonstone.

These differences show how beautiful the stone is and how well it can adapt to different geological conditions.

Blue Labradorite

Blue Labradorite is prized for its deep azure iridescence, which stands in contrast to the wider range of colors that are usually seen in other types. This bright color gives a dreamy, heavenly vibe like a starry night sky.

Most traditional labradorite comes from Labrador, Canada, but blue labradorite is often found in Madagascar. Its unique color depth and place of origin make blue labradorite stand out from its more well-known counterpart. This makes it a popular gem among collectors and jewelry lovers.

Golden Labradorite

Golden Labradorite stands out with its bright, gold-yellow labradorescence, which shines like the sun. Labradorite usually has a blue-green shimmer, but this type makes you feel warm and bright, like sunlight shining through leaves.

Labradorite is usually found in Labrador, Canada, but it can also be found in places like Oregon and other parts of the United States. This gem’s warm color is a nice change from the cool tones usually associated with labradorite.

Rainbow Moonstone

Despite its name, Rainbow Moonstone is a type of labradorite known for its ethereal adularescence, which has a blue or multicolored sheen. Rainbow moonstone doesn’t have the usual blue-green shimmer of labradorite.

Instead, it looks like the moonlight shining through wisps of cloud. Labradorite usually comes from Labrador, Canada, but most rainbow moonstones come from places like India, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar, making it stand out from other labradorites.

Spectrolite

Spectrolite is a type of labradorite that is considered to be the best. It’s known for its full range of bright colors, which include deep blues, purples, and greens. Labradorite usually has a blue-green play of color, but Spectrolite has a wider and more intense range of colors, which makes it more interesting.

Labradorite usually comes from Labrador, Canada, but Spectrolite only comes from Finland, specifically the Ylamaa region. This makes it both brighter and more unique than its more common cousin.

Transparent Labradorite

As the name suggests, transparent Labradorite stands out because it is clear and lets more light through than opaque Labradorite. Instead of the iridescence typical of labradorite, this clear version focuses on its crystalline structure, which often shows inclusions and other unique internal features.

Labrador, Canada is where most common labradorite comes from, but the clear variety has been found in places like Madagascar and other places with different geological structures.

Where to find Labradorite

Even though these gems can be found worldwide, some places stand out. If you want to know how to find labradorite in the US, you have a better chance in some places than others.

Adirondack Mountains, New York

The Adirondack Mountains in New York are known for their large anorthosite complex, a great place for labradorite to form. Because of its unique geological history, this area is a great place to find labradorite.

This gem can be found in many colors in the Adirondacks, but the classic blue-green iridescence is most common. But occasionally, you can find rarer colors, like gold, that aren’t found anywhere else.

The rough terrain and different kinds of minerals in the mountains make them a great place to look for this mysterious stone.

Franklin, New Jersey

Franklin, New Jersey, is known as the “Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World,” and has a long geology history. Even though Franklin is known for its unique fluorescent minerals, it also has a wide range of minerals, including labradorite.

Here, the labradorite often shows its classic blue-green color play, which shows what labradorescence is all about. Even though labradorite isn’t as common in Franklin as in other places around the world, it shows how important the area is for mineralogists and gives gem lovers another reason to visit this historic place.

Graves Mountain, Georgia

Graves Mountain in Georgia is a well-known place for rock hunters because it has a lot of different minerals. Graves Mountain is mostly known for its rutile, kyanite, and lazulite, but it also has labradorite.

Labradorite in this area usually has its typical blue-green iridescence, but sometimes you can find it in other colors. The area’s varied geological history, which includes metamorphic events and intrusions, makes it a good place for many minerals to form, including the beautiful labradorite.

Graves Mountain explorers can enjoy the thrill of finding this gem among some other interesting minerals.

Jackson’s Crossroads, Georgia

Instead of labradorite, Jackson’s Crossroads in Georgia is known for its great amethyst deposits. Mineral lovers who want to find high-quality, deep purple amethyst crystals are drawn to this place.

Even though the area isn’t known for labradorite in particular, it does have a variety of minerals because of its varied geology. But if a person’s main goal is to find labradorite, other places are easier to find.

Oregon Coast

With its rough landscapes and changing geological history, the Oregon Coast is a great place for people who are interested in minerals. Labradorite can sometimes be found in this area, especially in the form of pebbles on beaches that have been smoothed and shaped by the waves.

Labradorite here often has the typical blue-green iridescence, but there have also been reports of golden-colored pieces. The Pacific Ocean’s eroding power and Oregon’s mineral-rich soil make the coast a promising, if not very common, place to look for this mysterious gem.

How to find Labradorite

There are many different ways to look for labradorite. Each way is an adventure and a chance to find one of these beautiful stones.

Examine rocks under light

Labradorite is hard to spot because it doesn’t look special and a plain surface hides its signature shimmer. When looking at rocks in the light, tilt the rock in different directions to see reflections.

Labradorescence is the name for the bright play of iridescent colors that you can see in labradorite. These colors are mostly blue and green, but they can also be orange, yellow, or purple.

Use direct sunlight or a strong flashlight when you search for labradorite to improve your chances of finding more of it. This will make any labradorescence stand out, making it easier to tell labradorite from other rocks.

Look beyond surface appearance

When looking for natural labradorite, you must learn to look past what a rock looks like on the outside. At first glance, raw labradorite might look like a dull gray or black stone with small flaws.

But its magic is just below the surface. By turning and tilting the stone differently, you can bring out its labradorescence, a bright show of colors. Labradorite is known for its beautiful color play, which ranges from deep blues and greens to fiery oranges and reds.

By training your eye to see these small shimmers and reflections, even in stones that don’t look like they have much going on, you can increase your chances of finding this gem.

Research known locations

When looking for labradorite, using historical and geological information from known places is very important. Labrador, Canada, the Adirondack Mountains in New York, and some parts of Madagascar are known for having a lot of labradorite deposits, which shows that the geology is good there.

By learning about these areas’ rock formations, mineral associations, and terrain, you can guess that labradorite might also be found in similar places. Geological maps, research papers, and local mineral reports are useful tools.

If you compare these to topographical maps, you might find unexplored areas with labradorite. By learning more about places where labradorite is known to be found, you improve your ability to spot similar landscapes and increase your chances of finding new, untapped sources of this beautiful gemstone.

How to identify Labradorite once you find it

Labradorites are different from other gems in many ways, which makes them stand out. Let’s talk about how to tell a labradorite apart when you get your hands on one.

What Labradorite looks like on the outside

Depending on what kind of labradorite it is, the outside can look very different, but there are some general things to look for:

Conchoidal fractures

Rough labradorite tends to break in ways that aren’t even or look like snail shells. The stone may look dull from the outside and often has gray, green, or black tones.

Labradorite often looks rough and frank in its natural state because it doesn’t have clear cracks and has a unique color. This hides the bright labradorescence that is just below the surface.

The way it looks on the outside can be deceiving. Small reflective planes can sometimes be seen on this surface. These planes hint at the hidden play of colors below.

This rough, unpolished surface, which is often rough and doesn’t show any signs of the gem’s inner brilliance, hides the gem’s true mesmerizing beauty, only shown when light interacts with its internal structures.

Dark exterior

Labradorite’s rough surface often gives it a mysterious look. Its surface mostly consists of dark, muted colors like deep gray, smoky blue, and black. This can make it look almost mysterious.

This obsidian-like facade is usually uneven, with bumps, ridges, and flecks here and there. Small iridescent patches in the dark parts of the stone hint at its hidden depths.

At first glance, this gem could be missed because it looks like a simple rock. But this dark, unassuming exterior is just a veil that hides the rainbow of colors that lie beneath, waiting to be shown by the right angle of light.

Inclusions

In rough labradorite, the inclusions can tell a visual story about the mineral’s geological journey. These inclusions might look like tiny mineral specks, veined patterns, or uneven patches that break up the solid color on its textured surface.

Sometimes there are whitish streaks or small changes in how bright the color is, which point to the interaction of different minerals. These spots can also reflect light in different ways, making random flashes stand out against the dark background of the stone.

Each inclusion, whether it’s a tiny pinprick or a big mark, makes the stone look more interesting and gives a hint of the mesmerizing labradorescence that’s inside.

What Labradorite looks like on the inside

The features inside the labradorite can be very similar to those outside, but they are often more concentrated or bright. Here are some common things to see:

Labradorescence

Labradorescence is the most exciting thing about labradorite. It’s a play of colors that seems to come from the depths of the stone. Inside the rough labradorite, this effect resembles a kaleidoscopic dance of bright colors, like electric blues, fiery oranges, ethereal greens, and sometimes even mystical purples.

It looks like the stone is made of an aurora borealis. This iridescence doesn’t come from the mineral’s surface. Instead, it comes from the mineral’s internal lattice. Light bends and scatters between the layers when light hits the stone, making a stunning show.

Labradorescence can be strong or weak, and its range can be small or large. This makes each piece of labradorite a unique work of nature’s art.

Spectrum of colors

Inside rough labradorite is a beautiful tapestry of colors that almost looks like it came from another planet. When light hits the inner structures of a stone, it reveals a wide range of colors.

Deep, heavenly blues make you think of faraway galaxies, while bright greens make you think of the ethereal dance of the northern lights. Firey oranges and reds resemble the embers of a blazing fire, and sometimes golden yellows and mysterious purples peek out to add to the visual symphony.

Because of the way the stone is made inside, each piece of labradorite has its own unique set of colors. This is a great example of how nature is a great artist.

Translucence

Labradorite looks rough on the outside, but it has a transparent quality that is both hard to describe and fascinating. This half-transparency lets light pass through the stone and refract and reflect off its many layers.

Because of this, the interior has a dreamlike depth where the lines between the surface and the center are blurred. The stone’s natural labradorescence is made brighter and more noticeable by its ability to let light through.

It looks like you are looking into a cloudy world where light and matter dance together. This gives labradorite an ethereal beauty, bridging the gap between the real and the unreal in a shimmering show.