Known for thousands of years to Indigenous Peoples in South America, Sodalite didn't become popular worldwide until the late 1800’s when a large deposit was discovered in Ontario, Canada. Princess Patricia, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, chose Sodalite as interior decoration for Marlborough House in England after a visit to Ontario. Because of her influence, an alternative name for this beautiful gemstone is Princess Blue.
Sodalite was named for its sodium content. It is a member of the feldspathoid mineral family. Sodalite stones can vary in color, but those used in jewelry are shades of royal blue with white inclusions. Sodalite and lapis lazuli are often confused, but sodalite has no pyrite inclusions. Sodalite is often a component of lapis lazuli. While sodalite can be found in many locales around the world, this variety is mined in Brazil.