Sodalite

Origin: Itaju do Colonia, Bahia, Brazil 
Mohs Hardness: 5.5-6 

Sodalite is a rich royal blue, tectosilicate mineral that forms in silica under-saturated environments, such as vein fillings in plutonic igneous rocks. Historically, the Caral culture, a Pre-Columbian era society of north-central coastal Peru (3,700 BCE – 1,800 BCE), and heralded as “the oldest city in the Americas, and one of the earliest cities in the world” used Sodalite as a primary trade item. It was first discovered in 1811 in Greenland but was not widely used as an ornamental gemstone until 1891 when large deposits were discovered in Ontario, Canada.  

Metaphysically, Sodalite can bring emotional balance, calms panic attacks, and enhances self-esteem, trust, and acceptance.