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Geographic Location
The highest quality deposits of labradorite, according to minerals.net, are found in Russia and Finland. The quality of labradorite, as is the case with opal, is determined by the amount of iridescence. New York, Utah, Newfoundland and Canada have abundant labradorite deposits. The stone is named after the locality where it was first thought to be discovered: Labrador, Canada.
Hardness
On the Mohs scale which ranks from 1 to 10, 1 being the softest (talc) and 10 being the hardest (diamond), labradorite measures at 6.5. Labradorite ranks at the top of the semi-precious stones in both brilliance and hardness.
Natural Form
It would be extremely rare to encounter a pure labradorite crystal. Although labradorite does have a crystal formation, the mineral itself is typically embedded in the host rock, similar to the massive varieties of the Mexican sandstone opal. Mineralogists refer to the class of crystal formation in labradorite as "twinning," which means that the crystals are found growing out from each other as opposed to independently. This forms a leveling or graded effect.
Cleavage and Refractive Index
Since labradorite develops in sheets, it possesses near perfect "cleavage," which is a term used to qualify how easily the layers of a mineral break apart. The refractive index (RI) is a measure that calculates the speed of light in a transparent gemstone. For example, the diamond has an RI or about 2.4, which explains its superior brilliance. The RI of labradorite measures in at about 1.5. Other minerals of similar RIs are fluoride, Lapis Lazuli, morganite and malachite.
Lore
Through the centuries witch doctors and medicine men have endowed gemstones with metaphysical, curative and talismanic properties. According to mineralminer.com, believers in the occult use labradorite to relieve conditions such as depression and anxiety. The curative powers of labradorite alleviate illnesses associated with the eyes, brain and the intestinal tract. In The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, G.F. Kunz informs that the 27th chapter of the Egyptian Book of the Dead is engraved upon feldspar. In a later chapter, Kunz lists labradorite among the other good luck stones that included cats eye, Kunzite, and Garnet amongst others.