Sodalite
/ˈsoʊ.də.laɪt/noun
A blue, white, or gray mineral consisting chiefly of sodium aluminum silicate with chlorine.
Did you know?Sodalite’s intense blue color can be caused by sulfur-related defects in its crystal structure, making its color a product of microscopic chemical irregularities rather than a mystical dye.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Arabic / Medieval Latin
Arabic / Latin
suwwād / sodanum
“A plant or medicinal substance associated with alkaline preparations; the exact pathway into European soda terminology is debated.”
16th Century
Italian
soda
“An alkali or alkaline ash obtained from plants and used in glassmaking and other processes.”
1806
New Latin
sodalites
“The mineral name formed from soda, referring to its notable sodium content, plus -ite, meaning a mineral or rock.”
1807
English
sodium
“The chemical element named from soda, after its isolation and identification as the metallic component of soda compounds.”
19th Century
English
sodalite
“The established English name for the sodium-rich aluminosilicate mineral.”