Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Mesolite

Big Photo

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

Show Mesolite Photos (121)
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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2657.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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

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
(Na,K,Ca
 
0
·5)
 
4
(Al
 
4
Si
 
20
)O
 
48
·18H
 
2
O
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

Search Engines:
  • Look for Mesolite on Google
  • Look for Mesolite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Mesolite on Webmineral
  • Look for Mesolite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Mesolite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Mesolite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Mesolite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Mesolite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Search for Mesolite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for Mesolite on minvision.com
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Find Mesolite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Mesolite

    Show Locality List (296 Items)
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.