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Mesolite

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Spray, Wheeler Co., Oregon, USA
© Dick Dionne

Show Mesolite Photos (128)
Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colorless, white, gray, ...
Hardness:5
Name:From the Greek for middle, for it's composition between natrolite and scolecite.


Zeolite Group.

Classification of Mesolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.21-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GA.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
A : Zeolites with T5O10 Units – The Fibrous Zeolites
Dana 8th edition ID:77.1.5.4

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.10.6

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
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Occurrences of Mesolite

Geological Setting:In cavities in basalts.

Physical Properties of Mesolite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Comment:Silky when fibrous
Colour:Colorless, white, gray, yellowish
Hardness (Mohs):5
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {110} {110}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Comment:Compact masses are tough.
Density (measured):2.26 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.27 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mesolite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Fdd2
Cell Parameters:a = 18.4049(8) Å, b = 56.655(6) Å, c = 6.5443(4) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.325 : 1 : 0.116
Unit Cell Volume:V 6,823.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Elongated prismatic crystals, hairlike tufts, porcelaneous, massive.
Twinning:Characteristically on {010} {100}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Mesolite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.505 nβ = 1.505 nγ = 1.505
2V:Measured: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.001

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v strong

Chemical Properties of Mesolite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:K

Relationship of Mesolite to other Species

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

- +
9.GA.05Gonnardite
Na
 
2
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.GA.05Natrolite
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.GA.05Paranatrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·3H
 
2
O
9.GA.05Scolecite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.GA.10Thomsonite-Ca
NaCa
 
2
[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GA.10Thomsonite-Sr
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Na[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
]·7H
 
2
O
9.GA.15Edingtonite
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
9.GA.15Kalborsite
K
 
6
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
|Al
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
20
]
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
 
2
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 7H
 
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
16.10.25Erionite
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 Mesolite

Synonyms:
Cotton-StoneHarringtoniteLime-Soda-MesotypePoonahlitePoonalite
Other Languages:
German:Mesolith
Poonahlit
Poonalit
Russian:Мезолит
Spanish:Mesolita
Poonahlita
Poonalita
Varieties:
Pseudomesolite

Other Information

Electrical:May exhibit small pyroelectric effect, piezeoelectric.
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 Mesolite

Reference List:Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 143: 231-248.

Artioli, G., Smith, J.V., and Pluth, J.J. (1986) X-ray strcture refinement of mesolite. Acta Crystallographica: C42: 937-942.

American Mineralogist (1992): 77: 685.

Articles/Blogs about Mesolite

Article entries:
Zeolites from LanzaroteVolker Betz

Internet Links for Mesolite

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    Localities for Mesolite

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