Sodalite on Aegirine Matrix - Greenland

Contributed by: Mark Cole
Date: Apr 6th, 2026
Locality: Tunulliarfik Fjord, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland (See on Mindat)
Size: 3 x 1.5 x 4.5 inches
Weight: 13.6 oz

Description:
Sodalite and aegirine are both rock building minerals within the Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland. The sodalite is nicely fluorescent under all wavelengths, and tenebrescent when exposed to shortwave UV. The bright green fluorescence is uranyl activated salts. There is an area of bluish fluorescence on the right side of this specimen of unknown origin. The aegirine crystals (non-fluorescent) are thin masses of dark green needles.

Originally posted by Mark Cole on Nature's Rainbows in 2016.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Fluorescence under midwave UV light.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Tenebrescence after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Sodalite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Orange
• Fluorescence under Midwave (305nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Orange
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Orange
• Tenebrescence after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Purple