Labradorite is a fascinating mineral whose charm is too easily overlooked. Generally a dull, dark looking mineral with no special virtue until the colorful shiller is observed glowing on the surface with a colorful play of light across cleavage planes that can range from blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. Labradorite is most notably found in Labrador, Canada and Scandinavia.
Metaphysical: Labradorite is said to bring luck. According to an Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador. It is told that a wandering Eskimo warrior found them and was able to free most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped within the stone, giving us this beautiful shimmering material.