Larvikite

The first Larvikite that I met tried to sneak into my life. A single gem had managed to hide itself amongst a large shipment of mixed gemstones. It was the first time I ever went through a shipment twice. My son had just joined the Air Force and its bright steel blue flash instantly brought comforting images of my son and his new path. In fact because of that moment, I gave the gemstone my own nickname (and Larvikite has lots of nicknames), "Air Force" stone.

Larvikite is a soda, lime rich Feldspar, also known as a plagioclase. In this grouping of Feldspars the sodium aluminum silicate and calcium aluminum silicate combine into a three way crystal system. This crystal formation contributes to the flashes found in Larvikite and other plagioclase siblings like Labradorite and Rainbow Moonstone.

This unusual member of the Feldspar family was named in 1890 by W. Christofer Broegger. He was a petrology professor at the University of Oslo at the time. Most geologists believe this unique crystal is only found around the Fjords of Larvik Norway. Though it has shown up in other locations, these smaller "deposits" have been linked to human intervention.

Larvikite stones range in color from a lighter blue (Blue Pearl), to a darker blue with an almost steel colored flash (Emerald Pearl).

At this time it is the belief of most geologists that Larvikite does not form actual crystals. The majority of deposits have been large blocks and massive boulders. Some of the boulders found their way to the English coastline around East Yorkshire. They are among a number of exotic stones found in the area that were once used to help defend the beaches (against Saxons or Vikings?). The East Yorkshire Boulder Committee call these "human influenced erratics" and have taken great pains to notate the locations of these out of place stones.

This will help future petrologists understand how the Larvikite got there. As the sea and drift break the boulders down, it will create smaller round pebbles. Eventually it will become more and more difficult to separate these human deposits from similar glacial deposits (which have been known to deposit crystals in places they are not suppose to be).

Similar deposits of Larvikite found in the Lake Ontario region are believed to have made their way to North America as ballast aboard ships bringing grain from Europe. In this instance, ballast refers to crushed stones used to balance an uneven load. Larvikite was used this way during the 30s and 40s of the last century.

While Larvikite's history is still pretty new (barely over 100 years), the gemstone has picked up a number of nicknames during this brief span. They include Birds Eye Granite, Black Moonstone, Blue Norwegian Moonstone, Blue Pearl Granite, Blue Granite, Norwegian Pearl Granite, Emerald Pearl, Pub Stone* and even Labradorite. And that is a short list.

Unfortunately, attaching a name like granite to Larvikite is extremely misleading. This gem is not a Granite by any sense of the definition. However its extensive use in buildings (*including its use as a facing stone for a number of pubs in England) has led to the stone receiving its granite sub title.

This flashy feldspar made its public debut at the World's Fair in Germany during 1890. Nations participating in the fair were asked to send their two best decorative building stones to be judged by architects. According to the Norwegian legend, Norway only produced one building stone at the time and was desperate to find a second stone to send. Broegger, who had just registered his new stone (according to the myth, it "winked at him in the moonlight") was asked to suggest a second stone. Immediately he recommended the new discovery, which the architects eventually choose as the fair's best building stone.

Larvikite was used in the construction of the United Nations building in New York. A bust of Thor Heyerdahl (the Kon-Tiki sailor) carved from Larvikite sits in Larvik Norway. Countertops, door knobs, book ends, paper weights and carved gemstones are some of the other decorative uses for this crystal.

There appears to be very little study of Larvikite as a healing or magical gemstone. Though, I suspect there are probably some ancient unwritten Norwegian histories on this crystal. Unfortunately this means I don't have the luxury of getting back up confirmations to my personal readings from Melody, Maya Heath or Scott Cunningham. We are on our own, treading new territory with our Larvikite guide.

Larvikite may prove to be the perfect companion for those times when speed is of the essence. If you need to expedite the completion of a project, goal, task, settlement, bring some issue to closure, try working with this stone. Please be forewarned. Sometimes, issues and situations are meant to resolve themselves in a timeframe that may be different from yours. Use caution and good judgment when asking the Universe to hurry along.

My crystal accompanied me during the most stressful month of my move. These were the weeks I spent searching that perfect "second" job in a city I do not know (yet). In moments when I felt lost, I could watch the cool blue flash on my Larvikite and regain focus. You may find that your crystal will help you keep on track. If you tend to stray away your highest good, Larvikite will assist you by keeping your most perfect path well lit.

Working with Larvikite will help you to see behind the faces that people wear. If you are a healer or a reader, it can be a very powerful companion. The stone will aid you to more quickly and easily understand your client's needs. You'll be able to hear the real message between their words and see the true desires within their hearts. It will also help you to communicate a path or healing that will have the correct impact on their lives.