Labaradorite is a type of feldspar that is named after the peninsula of Labrodor in Canada where it was discovered. The body colour of labradorite can be dark blue to opaque, but it is its unique optical effects that distinguish this stone.
The inter-grown layers within the structure of the gemstone cause the unique play of colour when illuminated. Known as labradorescence, lustrous metallic blues and greens dance across the surface of the stone when illuminated. When labradorite was first discovered in 1770, it was thought that this spectral effect was caused by the Northern Lights. Labradorite is also found in Australia, Finland, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia and the USA.
