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Mordenite

Big Photo

Goble, Columbia Co., Oregon, USA
© Antonio Borrelli

Show Mordenite Photos (67)
Formula:
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
·7H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white, ...
Hardness:3 - 4
Name:For the type locality


Zeolite Group.

Classification of Mordenite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.22-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GD.35

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
Dana 8th edition ID:77.1.6.1

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.10.15

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
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Type Occurrence of Mordenite

Type Locality:Morden, Bay of Fundy, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, Canada
Year of Discovery:1864

Occurrences of Mordenite

Geological Setting:Veins and amygdaloids in igneous rocks.

Physical Properties of Mordenite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly on {010}
Colour:Colourless, white, yellowish, pinkish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
perfect on {100}
distinct on {010}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.12 - 2.15 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.125 g/cm3

Crystallography of Mordenite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 18.16Å, b = 20.45Å, c = 7.54Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.888 : 1 : 0.369
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,800.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Prismatic crystals, acicular to fine fibrous, radiating groups, cottony aggregates, compact, porcelaneous.
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 Mordenite

Type:Biaxial (+/-)
RI values: nα = 1.472 - 1.483 nβ = 1.475 - 1.485 nγ = 1.477 - 1.487
2V:Measured: 76° to 104°, Calculated: 78° to 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.005

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

Chemical Properties of Mordenite

Formula:
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
·7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, K, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Mg

Relationship of Mordenite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.GD.05Gmelinite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.05Gmelinite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.05Gmelinite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Willhendersonite
KCa[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Sr
Sr
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.15Lévyne-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.15Lévyne-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Bellbergite
(K,Ba,Sr)
 
2
Sr
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Ca,Na)
 
4
[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.25Offretite
KCaMgAl
 
5
Si
 
13
O
 
36
·16H
 
2
O or near
9.GD.25Wenkite
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,Ca)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.35Maricopaite
Pb
 
7
Ca
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
48
O
 
100
·32H
 
2
O
9.GD.40Dachiardite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
·25H
 
2
O
9.GD.40Dachiardite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
·25H
 
2
O
9.GD.45Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.55Bikitaite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
·H
 
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
 
2
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
16.10.6Mesolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
3
 · 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
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
[HSi
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
4
 · 6H
 
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
16.10.16Reyerite
(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 Mordenite

German names:
Mordenit
Russian names:
Морденит
Spanish names:
Mordenita

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 Mordenite

Reference List:Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1986): 175: 249-256.

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 50: 65-77.

Internet Links for Mordenite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Mordenite

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