Quick Facts
Formation & Origin
Larvikite is an igneous rock composed primarily of ternary feldspar (a feldspar with sodium, potassium, and calcium) with minor augite, biotite, and other minerals. It formed as a plutonic intrusion about 295 million years ago in what is now the Larvik region of southeastern Norway.
What makes larvikite visually stunning is the schiller effect displayed by its large feldspar crystals - a blue to silver flash that appears and disappears as the stone is rotated, similar to labradorite's flash but in a darker, more dramatic matrix. This schiller is caused by thin lamellar intergrowths within the feldspar that scatter light through thin-film interference.
Larvikite is Norway's national stone and is widely used as a dimension stone (building facade material) worldwide. You've probably seen it without knowing it - many modern building facades, countertops, and floor tiles use polished larvikite. In the crystal market, it's sometimes incorrectly sold as 'black moonstone' or 'black labradorite,' but it's neither.
Identification Guide
Larvikite is identified by its dark gray-blue base color with a distinctive silver-blue schiller flash visible on feldspar cleavage faces. The overall appearance is darker than labradorite with a more subtle, silver-toned flash rather than labradorite's vivid blue-green.
Distinguish from labradorite (typically lighter gray, more vivid multi-color flash), black moonstone (a misnomer for larvikite itself), and gabbro (similar dark igneous rock but without schiller). The silver-blue flash on a dark gray background is characteristic.
Spotting Fakes
Larvikite is abundant and inexpensive as a building stone, so faking is unnecessary. The issue is naming: it's frequently sold as 'black moonstone,' 'black labradorite,' or 'Norwegian moonstone.' While the feldspar in larvikite is related to both moonstone and labradorite feldspar, larvikite is a rock (multiple minerals), not a single mineral variety. The naming isn't exactly wrong, but it's misleading.
Cultural & Metaphysical Traditions
Presented as cultural traditions, not scientific evidence
Larvikite is relatively new to the crystal healing market, having gained popularity in the 2010s partly through the 'black moonstone' trade name. Practitioners associate it with grounding, protection, and connecting to ancestral wisdom. Its Norwegian origin connects it to Norse spiritual traditions. The subtle schiller is interpreted as representing inner light that only reveals itself at the right angle - a metaphor for hidden wisdom.
Where It's Found
The only source, named after this coastal city
Price Guide
Good to Know
Scratch test: At hardness 6, Larvikite resists scratching from a knife but can be scratched by quartz. Best for pendants and earrings rather than rings.
Sources: Found at only one location on Earth - Norway. Supply is inherently limited.
Heft test: Larvikite has average mineral density (2.70). It feels about as heavy as you'd expect from a stone its size.
Related Minerals
Related feldspar flash, different rock type
Related feldspar family, different optical effect
Another dark stone with flash, different minerals
Finnish labradorite, more vivid flash