Labradorite is an incredibly beautiful stone used for interior decoration and landscaping. One of its varieties, Volga Blue, is quarried in Ukraine and is renowned worldwide. Let’s explore why leading European and American architects choose labradorite for creating unique interiors.

Labradorite is an igneous rock belonging to the gabbro family. It is a type of anorthosite and has the following composition:

• 50–70% labradorite (or plagioclase);
• 20–30% dark-colored minerals (pyroxenes, amphiboles);
• a small amount of other impurities.

The combination of these components creates a black, brown, or gray stone with rare iridescence in shades of blue, red, green, or yellow. These inclusions shimmer in the sunlight with a rainbow-like glow, reminiscent of the pearly sheen inside a mollusk shell or the play of light in a drop of oil. The colors become incredibly vibrant once the stone’s surface is polished. It is these colorful shifts (from light blue to green and deep violet) that enhance the stone’s aesthetics, giving it depth and richness in texture. Depending on the angle of light, the appearance of labradorite changes, making the stone seem almost alive. Lighter labradorites are less common and are typically priced slightly higher than that of darker varieties.

Labradorite is a stone with a coarse-grained, fully crystalline structure. Its key technical characteristics are:

• Density: 2.7–2.86 g/cm³;
• Hardness on the Mohs scale: 6.5;
• Abrasion index: 0.5 g/cm²;
• Compressive Strength: 160–300 MPa, with some specimens ranging from 40 to 90 MPa;
• Melting point: around 1320°C;
• Water absorption: 0.21%.

The stone is characterized by a massive texture and high decorative appeal.

Labradorite is used in construction due to the following characteristics:

• Durability. This high-hardness stone retains its original properties for decades.
• Wear Resistance. The material is protected against abrasive wear, making it ideal for flooring.
• Impact Resistance. Thanks to its high density, labradorite can withstand strong impacts without surface damage.
• Fire Safety. Labradorite surfaces do not burn and retain their original characteristics even when in direct contact with fire.
• Moisture Resistance. With low water absorption, the stone minimizes the risk of mold and mildew formation.

Labradorite is naturally an extremely strong and long-lasting material. When properly processed, perfectly smooth stone surfaces maintain their properties for decades, even centuries. This material requires minimal maintenance and does not need special products to preserve its aesthetic appeal. Choosing labradorite for your finishes is a long-term investment that ensures an interior unaffected by the passage of time.