Judging quality
Blue flash from irregular feldspar grains scattered through a dark grey groundmass, rather than the sheet flash of labradorite. Sold as 'black moonstone' at times.
Igneous
Larvikite
Norwegian building stone shot with silvery-blue schiller from feldspar exsolution lamellae — labradorescence in a dark grey rock. Widely used as facade cladding, and quietly one of the most beautiful stones in any city.
Care
Durable. Water and cloth.
History & lore
Norway's national stone, quarried around Larvik and shipped worldwide; it clads bank buildings from Oslo to New York.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Larvikite
- What is Larvikite?
- Norwegian building stone shot with silvery-blue schiller from feldspar exsolution lamellae — labradorescence in a dark grey rock. Widely used as facade cladding, and quietly one of the most beautiful stones in any city.
- How hard is Larvikite and what is it made of?
- Larvikite is a Igneous-family mineral with the composition Feldspar-rich monzonite. It crystallizes in the — system and rates 6-6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in grey, steel grey, blue, silver.
- Where does Larvikite come from?
- Notable localities for Larvikite include Larvik, Norway.
- How do you tell good Larvikite from filler?
- Blue flash from irregular feldspar grains scattered through a dark grey groundmass, rather than the sheet flash of labradorite. Sold as 'black moonstone' at times.
- How do you care for Larvikite?
- Durable. Water and cloth.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.