Sodalite (variety: "Hackmanite") (rare)

Item Description

This is one of only a handful of Hackmanite gems that I've had to offer from Afghanistan recently, as they are amazingly difficult to find. Sodalite is a very durable stone and that's why it is so popular among dealers and collectors alike. The gem variety of Sodalite is called Hackmanite and the material is tenebrescent which is the process by which a mineral changes daylight color after being exposed to ultra-violet light. This particular stone shows a good fluorescence under SW UV light, which is what causes the tenebresence. The stone fluoresces a purplish-blue hue under SW UV light, and then will actually turn a stronger PURPLE color after being exposed to prolonged UV light and then will return to its original ligther purple color after being exposed to prolonged daylight (tenebresence). This process is 100% repeatable and in no way hurts the stone. This gem has a "Oval" cut and is only very slightly included which is good for the material even. It's nearly impossible to find completely clean stones unless they are exceptionally small. This material is retailing for HIGH numbers now across the board, and you simply can't get your hands on gems with this kind of clarity. I saw one of these stones offered at the Tucson Show this year for $900 per carat for reference.