Mesolite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Mesolite
Formula:
Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white, gray, yellowish
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
2.26
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
From the Greek for meso = middle and lithos = stone, for its chemical composition is between that of natrolite and scolecite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2657
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2657:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
db644634-f468-4b0b-8bfa-a029b16a70b6
IMA Classification of Mesolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na2Ca2(Si9Al6)O30 · 8H2O
First published:
1801
Type description reference:
Classification of Mesolite
9.GA.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
A : Zeolites with T5O10 Units – The Fibrous Zeolites
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
A : Zeolites with T5O10 Units – The Fibrous Zeolites
77.1.5.4
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
16.10.6
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mes | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Mes | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Pronunciation of Mesolite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Mesolite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Comment:
Silky when fibrous
Colour:
Colorless, white, gray, yellowish
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {110} {110}
Perfect on {110} {110}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Comment:
Compact masses are tough.
Density:
2.26 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.27 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mesolite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.505 nβ = 1.505 nγ = 1.505
2V:
Measured: 80°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.001
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Optical Extinction:
X ∧ c ≃ 8°; Z = b.
Chemistry of Mesolite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Ca2Si9Al6O30 · 8H2O
Common Impurities:
K
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 V:
6,823.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Elongated prismatic crystals, hairlike tufts, porcelaneous, massive.
Forms:
Common {110}, {111}. Rare {100}, {010}, {101}, {011}.
Forms:
Common {110}, {111}. Rare {100}, {010}, {101}, {011}.
Twinning:
Characteristically on {010} {100}
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0006834 | Mesolite | Stuckenschmidt E, Kirfel A (2000) Zeolites of NAT topology: Structure refinement of mesolite from single crystal X-ray data and comparison with the structures of natrolite and scolecite European Journal of Mineralogy 12 571-579 | 2000 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.585 Å | (100) |
| 2.857 Å | (56) |
| 2.885 Å | (55) |
| 4.715 Å | (49) |
| 5.858 Å | (38) |
| 4.196 Å | (32) |
| 4.600 Å | (29) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) | |
| 10 : Basalt-hosted zeolite minerals | |
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals | |
| 17 : Marine authigenic Hadean minerals (see also #24) |
Geological Setting:
In cavities in basalts.
Synonyms of Mesolite
Other Language Names for Mesolite
Varieties of Mesolite
| Pseudomesolite | Mesolite has elongation parallel to Y while pseudomesolite has elongation parallel to Z. See Dana (7th), 655. Originally reported from Carlton Peak, Tofte, Cook Co., Minnesota, USA. |
Relationship of Mesolite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Gonnardite | (Na,Ca)2(Si,Al)5O10 · 3H2O | Orth. |
| Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
| Paranatrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 3H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
| Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 230 photos of Mesolite associated with Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| 176 photos of Mesolite associated with Chabazite | |
| 148 photos of Mesolite associated with Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
| 132 photos of Mesolite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 121 photos of Mesolite associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| 99 photos of Mesolite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 76 photos of Mesolite associated with Thomsonite Subgroup | |
| 69 photos of Mesolite associated with Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| 50 photos of Mesolite associated with Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O22]X · 8H2O |
| 46 photos of Mesolite associated with Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.GA.05 | Gonnardite | (Na,Ca)2(Si,Al)5O10 · 3H2O |
| 9.GA.05 | Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 9.GA.05 | Paranatrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| 9.GA.05 | Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| 9.GA.10 | Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
| 9.GA.10 | Thomsonite-Sr | Na(Sr,Ca)2[Al5Si5O20] · 7H2O |
| 9.GA.15 | Edingtonite | Ba[Al2Si3O10] · 4H2O |
| 9.GA.15 | Kalborsite | K6Al4BSi6O20(OH)4Cl |
| 9.GA.20 | Tetranatrolite |
Other Information
Electrical:
May exhibit small pyroelectric effect, piezeoelectric.
Thermal Behaviour:
In a closed tube, yields water. Before the blowpipe, becomes opaque and swells into vermicular forms but not so pronounced as scolecite. Fuses easily to a blebby enamel.
Notes:
Gelatinizes with HCl.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Mesolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2657.html
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References for Mesolite
Reference List:
(1857) VI. On mesolite and faröelite (mesole) The London, Edinburgh, And Dublin Philosophical Magazine And Journal Of Science, S. 4 Vol. 13 (83) 50-55 doi:10.1080/14786445708642242
Hey, Max H. (1933) Studies on the zeolites. Part V. Mesolite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 23 (143) 421-447 doi:10.1180/minmag.1933.023.143.01
Peng, C. J. (1955) Thermal analysis study of the natrolite group. American Mineralogist, 40 (9-10) 834-856
Foster, M.D. (1965) Composition of zeolites of the natrolite group; compositional relations among thomsonites, gonnardites and natrolites. Professional Paper 504de. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/pp504de
Harada, Kazuo, Hara, Mamoru, Nakao, Kazuso (1968) Mineralogical notes on mesolite and scolecite from Japan. Mineralogical Journal, 5 (5) 309-320 doi:10.2465/minerj1953.5.309
Ulrych, J., Rychlý, R. (1980) The overgrowth crystals of scolecite on mesolite. Kristall und Technik, 15 (9) 91-93 doi:10.1002/crat.19800150919
Johnson, G. K., Flotow, H. E., O'Hare, P. A. G., Wise, W. S. (1983) Thermodynamic studies of zeolites: natrolite, mesolite and scolecite. American Mineralogist, 68 (11-12) 1134-1145
Pechar, F. (1983) Study of the complex vibrational spectra of natural mesolite. Crystal Research and Technology, 18 (8) 1045-1052 doi:10.1002/crat.2170180812
Joshi, M. S., Joshi, V. V., Choudhari, A. L., Kanitkar, R. G. (1983) Studies on etching behaviour of {101} faces of natural mesolite crystals. Crystal Research and Technology, 18 (12) 1575-1580 doi:10.1002/crat.2170181226
Nawaz, Rab, Malone, John F., Din, Victor K. (1985) Pseudomesolite is mesolite. Mineralogical Magazine, 49 (350) 103-105 doi:10.1180/minmag.1985.049.350.16
Artioli, G., Smith, J. V., Pluth, J. J. (1986) X-ray structure refinement of mesolite. Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications, 42 (8) 937-942 doi:10.1107/s0108270186093939
Akizuki, Mizuhiko, Harada, Kazuo (1988) Symmetry, twinning, and parallel growth of scolecite, mesolite, and natrolite. American Mineralogist, 73 (5-6) 613-618
Ross, Malcolm, Flohr, Marta J. K., Ross, Daphne R. (1992) Crystalline solution series and order-disorder within the natrolite mineral group. American Mineralogist, 77 (7-8) 685-703
Gunter, M. E., Knowles, C. R., Schalck, D. K. (1993) Composite natrolite-mesolite crystals from the Columbia River Basalt Group, Clarkston, Washington. The Canadian Mineralogist, 31 (2) 467-470 doi:10.3749/1499-1276-31.2.467
Gunter, Mickey E., Ribbe, Paul H. (1993) Natrolite group zeolites: Correlations of optical properties and crystal chemistry. Zeolites, 13 (6) 435-440 doi:10.1016/0144-2449(93)90117-l
Ståhl, Kenny, Thomasson, Ronnie (1994) The dehydration and rehydration processes in the natural zeolite mesolite studied by conventional and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. Zeolites, 14 (1) 12-17 doi:10.1016/0144-2449(94)90048-5
Schäf, O., Ghobarkar, H. (1996) The Morphology of Hydrothermally Synthesised Mesolite. Crystal Research and Technology, 31 (6) doi:10.1002/crat.2170310621
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, Nickel, Ernest H., Passaglia, Elio, Peacor, Donald R., Quartieri, Simona, Rinaldi, Romano, Ross, Malcolm I., Sheppard, Richard A., Tillmanns, Ekkehart, Vezzalini, Giovanna (1997) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals; report of the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (6) 1571-1606
Apte, A., Phadke, A. V. (1997) Thermal behaviour of fibrous zeolites of the natrolite group. Journal of Thermal Analysis, 50 (3). 473-486 doi:10.1007/bf01980507
Stuckenschmidt, Elli, Kirfel, Armin (2000) Zeolites of NAT topology: Structure refinement of mesolite from single crystal X-ray data and comparison with the structures of natrolite and scolecite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 12 (2) 571-579 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2000/0012-0571
Kirfel, A., Gibbs, G. V. (2000) Electron density distributions and bonded interactions for the fibrous zeolites natrolite, mesolite and scolecite and related materials. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 27 (4) 270-284 doi:10.1007/s002690050256
Prasad, P.S.R., Prasad, K. Shiva (2007) Dehydration and rehydration of mesolite: An in situ FTIR study. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 100 (1-3) 287-294 doi:10.1016/j.micromeso.2006.11.012
Kol’tsova, T. N. (2010) Scolecite-mesolite transition in relation to sodium substitution for calcium. Inorganic Materials, 46 (2) 187-195 doi:10.1134/s0020168510020184
Geiger, Charles A. (2012) A low-temperature IR spectroscopic investigation of the H2O molecules in the zeolite mesolite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 24 (3) 439-445 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2012/0024-2176
Localities for Mesolite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Papeno'o Valley, Papenoo, Hitiaa O Te Ra, Tahiti Island, Windward Islands, Society Islands, French Polynesia, France