Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Erionite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Phelps Dodge Corporation Well No. 1, Little Ajo Mts, Ajo District, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
© Chinellato Matteo

Show Erionite Photos (105)



Colour:WhiteHardness:3½ - 4
Member of:Zeolite Group
Name:Erionite was first found at the Durkee Fire Opal Mine, Swayze Creek, Durkee, Baker Co., Oregon (Tschernich, 1992). In modern nomenclature, the original erionite was erionite-Na, but potassium was nearly equal to sodium.
Synonym of:Erionite-Ca, Erionite-K, Erionite-Na


This name now refers to a group of related minerals. Erionite minerals have the average chemical formula Ca3K2Na2[Al10Si26O72].30H2O (Z = 1), whereas the closely related offrétite has the average chemical formula CaKMg[Al5Si13O36].16H2O (Z = 1).

NOTE: The zeolite mineral species epitaxially overgrown on lévyne in all cases is identified as erionite (Passaglia et al., 1998).

Health warning: Carcinogenic upon inhalation of its dust, due to its fibrous structure (IARC Monography 42: 225-239, 1987). The population of Cappadocia, Turkey, who live in houses built from erionite-bearing tuff, is reported to suffer from mesothelioma (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erionite ).

Classification of Erionite

Dana 8th edition ID:77.1.2.5

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.10.25

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1399.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Physical Properties of Erionite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Tenacity:Flexible

Optical Data of Erionite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.458 - 1.468 nε = 1.458 - 1.480
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Relationship of Erionite to other Species

Member of:Zeolite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Alflarsenite
NaCa
 
2
Be
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
13
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
Amicite
K
 
2
Na
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
Ammonioleucite
(NH
 
4
,K)(AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
)
Analcime
Na
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
Barrerite
(Na,K,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
Bellbergite
(K,Ba,Sr)
 
2
Sr
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Ca,Na)
 
4
[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
Bikitaite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
 · H
 
2
O
Boggsite
Ca
 
8
Na
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
96
O
 
192
 · 70H
 
2
O
Brewsterite
Brewsterite-Ba
(Ba,Sr)[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
Brewsterite-Sr
(Sr,Ba,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
Chabazite
Chabazite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chabazite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chabazite-Levyne Subgroup
Chabazite-Mg
(Mg
 
0.7
K
 
0.5
Ca
 
0.5
Na
 
0.1
)[Al
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
]·10H
 
2
O
Chabazite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chabazite-Sr
Sr
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chiavennite
CaMnBe
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Clinoptilolite-Ca
(Ca,Na,K)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Clinoptilolite-K
(K,Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Clinoptilolite-Na
(Na,K,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 6H
 
2
O
Dachiardite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
 · 25H
 
2
O
Dachiardite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
 · 25H
 
2
O
Direnzoite
NaK
 
6
MgCa
 
2
(Al
 
13
Si
 
47
O
 
120
) · 36H
 
2
O
Edingtonite
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
Erionite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
Erionite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
Erionite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
Faujasite Subgroup
Faujasite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
Faujasite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,Ca)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
Faujasite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
Ferrierite
Ferrierite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
] · 18H
 
2
O
Ferrierite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
] · 18H
 
2
O
Ferrierite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
] · 18H
 
2
O
Flörkeite
(K
 
3
Ca
 
2
Na)[Al
 
8
Si
 
8
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
Garronite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Al
 
12
Si
 
20
O
 
64
 · 27H
 
2
O
Gaultite
Na
 
4
Zn
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
 · 5H
 
2
O
Gismondine
Gismondine-Ba
Ba
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
 · 4-6H
 
2
O
Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
 · 4H
 
2
O
Gmelinite
Gmelinite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Gmelinite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Gmelinite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Gobbinsite
Na
 
4
(Ca,Mg,K
 
2
)Al
 
6
Si
 
10
O
 
32
 · 12H
 
2
O
Gonnardite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
Gottardiite
Na
 
3
Mg
 
3
Ca
 
5
Al
 
19
Si
 
117
O
 
272
 · 93H
 
2
O
Harmotome
(Ba
 
0.5
,Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na)
 
5
[Al
 
5
Si
 
11
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Ba
(Ba,Ca,K,Na,Sr)
 
5
Al
 
9
Si
 
27
O
 
72
 · 22H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Ca
(Ca,Na)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-K
(K,Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Na
(Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Sr
(Sr,Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Hsianghualite
Ca
 
3
Li
 
2
(Be
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
)F
 
2
IMA2012-039
Ca
 
1-2
Fe[(Si,Al,Be)
 
5
Be
 
2
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
]•2H
 
2
O
Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
 · 4H
 
2
O
Leucite
K(AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
)
Lévyne
Lévyne-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Lévyne-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Lovdarite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
4
(Be,Al)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
Maricopaite
Pb
 
7
Ca
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
48
O
 
100
 · 32H
 
2
O
Mazzite-Mg
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
Ca
 
1.5
Al
 
9.5
Si
 
26.5
O
 
72
 · 28H
 
2
O or near
Mazzite-Na
Na
 
4
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
]
 
2
 · 30H
 
2
O
Merlinoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba)
 
2
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
 · 23H
 
2
O
Mesolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
9
Al
 
6
O
 
30
 · 8H
 
2
O
Montesommaite
(K,Na)
 
9
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
 · 10H
 
2
O
Mordenite
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
 · 7H
 
2
O
Mutinaite
Na
 
3
Ca
 
4
Si
 
85
Al
 
11
O
 
192
 · 60H
 
2
O
Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
Natrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 2H
 
2
O
Natrolite Subgroup
Offretite
KCaMgAl
 
5
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 16H
 
2
O or near
Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
 · 38H
 
2
O
Paranatrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
Paulingite
Paulingite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ba)
 
5
[Al
 
10
Si
 
35
O
 
90
] · 45H
 
2
O
Paulingite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Ba)
 
5
[Al
 
10
Si
 
35
O
 
90
] · 45H
 
2
O
Paulingite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Ba)
 
5
[Al
 
10
Si
 
35
O
 
90
] · 45H
 
2
O
Perlialite
K
 
9
Na(Ca,Sr)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 15H
 
2
O
Phillipsite-Ca
(Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na,Ba
 
0.5
)
 
4-7
[Al
 
4-7
Si
 
12-9
O
 
32
.
 
 12H2O
Phillipsite-K
(K,Na,Ca
 
0.5
,Ba
 
0.5
)
 
4-7
[Al
 
4-7
Si
 
12-9
O
 
32
]
.
 
 12H
 
2
O
Phillipsite-Na
(Na,K,Ca
 
0.5
,Ba
 
0.5
)
 
4-7
[Al
 
4-7
Si
 
12-9
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
Pollucite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
Roggianite
Ca
 
2
Be(OH)
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
 · 2.5H
 
2
O
Scolecite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
Stilbite
Stilbite-Ca
NaCa
 
4
[Al
 
9
Si
 
27
O
 
72
] · nH
 
2
O
Stilbite-Na
(Na,Ca,K)
 
6-7
[Al
 
8
Si
 
28
O
 
72
] · nH
 
2
O
Terranovaite
(Na,Ca)
 
8
(Si
 
68
Al
 
12
)O
 
160
 · 29H
 
2
O
Tetranatrolite
Thomsonite-Ca
NaCa
 
2
[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
] · 6H
 
2
O
Thomsonite-Sr
Na(Sr,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
] · 7H
 
2
O
Tschernichite
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 4-8H
 
2
O
Tschörtnerite
Ca
 
4
(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)
 
3
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
Wairakite
Ca(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
Weinebeneite
CaBe
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Wenkite
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
Willhendersonite
KCa[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
] · 5H
 
2
O
Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.10.1Bytownite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.10.2Lisetite
CaNa
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
16.10.4Thomsonite-Ca
NaCa
 
2
[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
] · 6H
 
2
O
16.10.5Gonnardite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
16.10.6Mesolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
9
Al
 
6
O
 
30
 · 8H
 
2
O
16.10.7Faujasite
16.10.8Garronite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Al
 
12
Si
 
20
O
 
64
 · 27H
 
2
O
16.10.9Boggsite
Ca
 
8
Na
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
96
O
 
192
 · 70H
 
2
O
16.10.10Herschelite
16.10.11Phillipsite
16.10.12Fedorite
(Na,K)
 
2-3
(Ca
 
4
Na
 
3
)Si
 
16
O
 
38
F
 
2
 · 3.5H
 
2
O
16.10.13Willhendersonite
KCa[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
] · 5H
 
2
O
16.10.14Barrerite
(Na,K,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
16.10.15Mordenite
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
 · 7H
 
2
O
16.10.16Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
 · 6H
 
2
O
16.10.17Lévyne
16.10.18Clinoptilolite
16.10.19Heulandite
16.10.20Gobbinsite
Na
 
4
(Ca,Mg,K
 
2
)Al
 
6
Si
 
10
O
 
32
 · 12H
 
2
O
16.10.21Stilbite
16.10.22Dachiardite
16.10.23Offretite
KCaMgAl
 
5
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 16H
 
2
O or near
16.10.24Perlialite
K
 
9
Na(Ca,Sr)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 15H
 
2
O
16.10.26Paulingite
16.10.27Sodium Dachiardite
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)
 
4-5
Al
 
8
Si
 
40
O
 
96
 · 26H
 
2
O
16.10.28Mazzite-Mg
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
Ca
 
1.5
Al
 
9.5
Si
 
26.5
O
 
72
 · 28H
 
2
O or near
16.10.29Roggianite
Ca
 
2
Be(OH)
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
 · 2.5H
 
2
O

Other Names for Erionite

Other Languages:
German:Erionit
Spanish:Erionita

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 Erionite

Reference List:

- +
Sheppard, R.A. and Gude, A.J. (1969b) Chemical composition and physical properties of the related zeolites offretite and erionite. American Mineralogist: 54: 875-886.

A. Gualtieri, G. Artioli, E. Passaglia, S. Bigi, A. Viani, and J.C. Hanson (1998): Crystal structure-crystal chemistry relationships in the zeolites erionite and offretite. Am. Mineral. 83, 590-606.

E. Passaglia, G. Artioli, and A. Gualtieri (1998): Crystal chemistry of the zeolites erionite and offretite. Am. Mineral. 83, 577-589.

Internet Links for Erionite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Erionite on Google
  • Look for Erionite images on Google
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for - Erionite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Erionite specimens
  • Search for Erionite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Erionite

    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.
    Show Locality List (201 Items)
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 24th Apr 2013 21:54:45
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds
    New Locality Added: Chatelaunoux, Mazaye, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, FranceFrom Frédéric Hède, 26th May 2013 06:55:41