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Cowlesite

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Upper Ritter Quarry, Ritter, Grant Co., Oregon, USA
© 2003 DM

Show Cowlesite Photos (45)
Formula:
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·6H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, White
Hardness:5 - 5½


Zeolite Group.

Unlike other zeolites, cowlesite has a very limited compositional range (Vezzalini et al., 1992).

Classification of Cowlesite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.24-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GG.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
G : Unclassified zeolites
Dana 8th edition ID:77.1.5.8

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.9.28

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Cowlesite

Co-type Localities:Unnamed wash, adjacent to State Route 177, Superior area, Superior District, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Neer Road, Goble, Columbia Co., Oregon, USA
Year of Discovery:1975

Physical Properties of Cowlesite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy
Colour:Colourless, White
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½

Crystallography of Cowlesite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.27Å, b = 15.25Å, c = 12.61Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.739 : 1 : 0.827
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,167.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:A doubled cell with a 23.3, b 30.6, c 25.0 A is also reported (Vezzalini et al., 1992).

Optical Data of Cowlesite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.505 - 1.513 nβ = 1.509 - 1.516 nγ = 1.509 - 1.518
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.004 - 0.005

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Cowlesite

Formula:
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Na,K

Relationship of Cowlesite to other Species

Member of Group:
Zeolite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.GG.10Mountainite
KNa
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)]·6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.9.1Gehlenite
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
16.9.2Anorthite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.3Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
16.9.4Svyatoslavite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.5Dmisteinbergite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.6Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
16.9.7Vuagnatite
CaAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.8Zoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.9Clinozoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.10Prehnite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
16.9.11Kamaishilite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.12Bicchulite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.13Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.9.14Chantalite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.15Cebollite
Ca
 
5
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
 or near
16.9.17Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
16.9.18Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
16.9.19Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
16.9.20Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.9.21Vertumnite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
·3H
 
2
O
16.9.22Scolecite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
16.9.23Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.24Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.25Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.26Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
16.9.27Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
16.9.30Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
16.9.31Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
·8H
 
2
O
16.9.32Amstallite
CaAl(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
4
·(H
 
2
O,Cl)

Other Names for Cowlesite

Synonyms:
IMA1975-016
Other Languages:
German:Cowlesit
Spanish:Cowlesita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Cowlesite

Reference List:Wise, W.S. & R.W. Tschernich (1975): Cowlesite, a new Ca-zeolite: American Mineralogist 60, 951-956.

Nawaz, R. (1984): New data on cowlesite from Northern Ireland, Mineralogical Magazine, 48, 565-566.

Vezzalini, G., Artioli, G., Quartieri, S., Foy, H. (1992): The crystal chemistry of cowlesite, Mineralogical Magazine, 56, 575-579.

Internet Links for Cowlesite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Cowlesite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Cowlesite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Cowlesite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Victoria Land
    		AmMin 82:423
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Gloucester Co.
        • Barrington Tops
          • Barrington
    		Graham, I. T., Pogson, R. E. and Colchester, D. (2002): Cowlesite and associated minerals from the Barrington Tops area, New South Wales. Australian J. Mineral. 8, 3-8.
    • Victoria
      • Flinders
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.49
      • Jindivick
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.49
    Austria
     
    • Lower Austria
      • Waldviertel
        • Mühldorf
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Kamloops Mining Division
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.124
    Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.51,99,124
        • Westwold
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.98,124
    • Ontario
      • Hastings Co.
        • Bancroft District
          • Dungannon Township
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.51,100,124
    • Québec
      • Laurentides
        • Argenteuil RCM
          • Wentworth
            • Laurel
    		Van Velthuizen et al. (2006) Mineral. Record 37, 283 [locality 48]; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.52,124
    Costa Rica
     
    • Guanacaste Province
    		Micro Probe Vol 7 No. 7 Spring 1993
    Micro Probe Vol. 7 No. 7 Spring 1993
    • San José Province
      • Bajo Chacones
    		Micro Probe Volume VII Number 7 Spring 1993
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
        • Mladá Boleslav region
          • Bela pod Bezdezem
    		Ing. O. Janeček - New localities of Offretite and Cowlesite
      • Ústí Region
        • Děčín (Tetschen)
    		Petr Fuchs 2007
        • Ústí nad Labem (Aussig)
    		Rychlý, R., Langrová, A., Had, J.: Chemicstry of cowlesite from Zezice, Bohemia. Scripta Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Masaryk. Brun, Geol., 1996, vol. 26, p. 43 - 44.
    Denmark
     
    • Faroe Islands (Faeroe Islands; Faeroes; Faroes)
      • Sandoy island
    		Zeolites of the World, R. Tschernich, 1992 (124,301)
      • Streymoy island
    		Zeolites of the World, R. Tschernich, 1992 (124)
    Hungary
     
    • Pest Co.
      • Pilis Mts.
        • Pilisszentlászló
    		GEODA 2005/3; Szakáll, S., Fehér, B. & Vezzalini, G. (2006): Occurrence of cowlesite in andesite at Pilisszentlászló, Pilis Mts., Hungary. Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica, Abstract Series, 5, p. 113.
    Iceland
     
    Selbekk, R. S. & Mattsson, H. (2004): Zeolitt mineraliseringer i Hvalfjördur, Island. STEIN 31 (1), 28-33
    Multi-stage zeolite facies mineralization in the Hvalfjo¨rdur area,
    • Mýrasýsla
      • Norðurárdalur
        • Hvammur
    		Betz, V. (1981): Famous mineral localities: Zeolites from Iceland and the Faeroes. Mineralogical Record 12 (1), 5-26
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Oristano Province
    		Bortolozzi, G., Ciriotti, M. E., Galli, E., & Bonacina, E. (2007). Carlhintzeite e cowlesite della Sardegna: primi ritrovamenti italiani. Micro (UK report), 1/2007, 33-38.
    Japan
     
    • Chugoku Region
      • Shimane Prefecture
        • Oki Islands
          • Nishinoshima
    		Matsubara, S. et al (1978) Bulletin of the National Science Museum (Tokyo), 4, 33-36.
    • Kyushu Island
      • Nagasaki Prefecture
    		Fujimoto et al. (1990) Chigaku Kenkyu, 39, 219-224.
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Northland
        • Kaipara
          • Aranga
    		Railton, G.L. & Watters, W.A., Minerals of New Zealand, New Zealand Geological Survey Bull. #104 (1990).
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/lovo.htm
    Spain
     
    • Canary Islands
      • Las Palmas Province
        • Lanzarote
          • Playa Blanca
    		Kratzsch E. (2001) Mineralfundstellen auf Lanzarote, Kanarische Inseln; Lapis 2001, 3, 13-23 (reference via Ferdinando Giovine)
    UK
     
    • Northern Ireland
      • Co. Antrim
        • Antrim
    		Trevor Boyd collection
        • Ballyclare
    		Trevor Boyd collection
    Wilson O., Dyer A., Enamy H. (2003): Zeolites of the British Isles. British Micromount Society, Occasional Paper, 15; BMS Collection; MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 1984, VOL. 48, PP. 565 6
        • Giant's Causeway
    		http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/cowlesite.pdf.; MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 1984, VOL. 48, PP. 565-6
        • Larne
    		No reference listed
    Trevor Boyd Collection
        • Portrush
    		Zeolite colletion of Volker Betz
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Skye
          • Duirinish
            • Dunvegan
    		[UKJMM 16:21-27]
    No reference listed
          • Trotternish
            • Loch Snizort
              • Kingsburgh
    		BMS Database
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Pinal Co.
        • Superior District
          • Superior area
            • adjacent to State Route 177
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 109, 160, 191, 230, 305, 395; Wise, W.S. & R.W. Tschernich (1975), Cowlesite, a new Ca-zeolite, Am.Min.: 60: 951-956.
    • Colorado
      • Jefferson Co.
        • Golden District
          • Golden
    		Rocks & Minerals 79:4
    MinRec 19:153
    • Idaho
      • Adams Co.
    		R&M 70:4 pp 242-263
      • Idaho Co.
        • Skookumchuck Creek
    		Ream, Lanny R. 2004. Idaho Minerals, 2nd edition, Revised and Updated
    • Oregon
      • Columbia Co.
        • Goble
    		Amer.Min.(1975) 60, 951-956; Micro Probe Vol. 6 No. 5 Fall 1987; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 117
      • Grant Co.
        • Mount Vernon
    		Micro Probe Volume VI Number 4
        • North Fork John Day River
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 118
        • Ritter
    		Micro Probe Volume VII Number 8 Fall 1993
    Micro Probe Volume VII Number 8 Fall 1993
      • Jackson Co.
        • Lost Creek Reservoir
    		K. Starnes, personal ID, 1986
      • Lake Co.
    		Micro Probe Vol. 7 No. 9 Spring 1994; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 118
      • Wallowa Co.
        • Joseph
          • Aneroid Lake
    		Micro Probe Volume VI Number 4
      • Wheeler Co.
        • Spray
    		Micro Probe Vol. 6 No. 4; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 118
    Micro Probe VolumeVII Number 3 Spring 1996
    • Washington
      • Clark Co.
        • Yacolt
    		Micro Probe Volume VI Number 4
      • Cowlitz Co.
        • Wolf Point
    		Micro Probe Vol. 7 No. 10
      • Grays Harbor Co.
        • Porter
    		Micro Probe Vol. 7 No. 5 Spring '92
      • Thurston Co.
        • Olympia
    		Zeolites of the World, Rudy W. Tschernich 1992
    Mineral and/or Locality
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