Identification guide · Minerals
How to Identify Labradorite
Labradorite is usually gray, blue flash, and green flash with a vitreous luster and is translucent. It has a Mohs hardness of 6. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Olivine, Albite, and Apatite; the tests below separate them.
Labradorite identification checklist
| Color | Gray, Blue flash, Green flash, Gold flash | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Vitreous | Fresh surfaces shine like glass; a dull surface usually means weathering, so chip or wet a corner. |
| Transparency | Translucent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 6 | It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Perfect | |
| Fracture | Uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 2.7 | Ordinary rock-like heft (specific gravity about 2.7), similar to quartz. |
| Crystal system | Triclinic |
Labradorite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Labradorite vs Olivine →
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Labradorite vs Albite →
Labradorite is harder (Mohs 6) than Apatite (Mohs 5), so Labradorite will scratch Apatite and not the other way round. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. Labradorite vs Apatite →
Both sit near Mohs 6, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
Field tips
- Check whether the specimen's color and texture match typical Labradorite examples.
- Use hardness, streak, luster, grain size, and locality together; no single trait is enough for every specimen.
Labradorite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Labradorite?
Check the color (gray, blue flash, green flash, and gold flash), the vitreous luster, a Mohs hardness of 6 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Labradorite?
Labradorite has a Mohs hardness of 6. It is about as hard as window glass: a knife barely marks it, while a steel file (Mohs 6.5) will.
What is the difference between Labradorite and Olivine?
Labradorite (Mohs 6, vitreous luster) and Olivine (Mohs 6.5–7, vitreous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Labradorite vs Olivine comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Labradorite worth anything?
Entry-level Labradorite specimens sell for around $5, typical collector pieces about $30, and premium examples $300 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Labradorite?
Labradorite is most often gray, blue flash, green flash, and gold flash. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
