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Scolecite

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Nasik District, Maharashtra, India
© Charles Creekmur

Show Scolecite Photos (147)
Formula:
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:colorless, white , pink, ...
Hardness:5 - 5½
Name:From the Greek, skolec = 'worm' in reference to the mineral's reaction to the blowpipe flame.


Zeolite Group.

Classification of Scolecite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.21-60
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 7th edition ID:77.1.5.5
Dana 8th edition ID:77.1.5.5

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.9.22

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
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Occurrences of Scolecite

Geological Setting:Cavities in basalts

Physical Properties of Scolecite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Silky when fibrous
Colour:colorless, white , pink, salmon, red, green
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on the {110} and {110}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.25 - 2.29 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.275 g/cm3

Crystallography of Scolecite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):m - Domatic
Space Group:Bb {B1 1b} {Cc} {C1c1}
Cell Parameters:a = 18.508(5) Å, b = 18.981(5) Å, c = 6.527(2) Å
β = 90.64°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.975 : 1 : 0.344
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,292.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Crystals are slender prismatic
Twinning:On {100}, twin axis [001], contact or penetration twins
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 Scolecite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.507 - 1.513 nβ = 1.516 - 1.520 nγ = 1.517 - 1.521
2V:Measured: 36° to 56°, Calculated: 36° to 40°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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 Scolecite

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

Relationship of Scolecite 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.05Mesolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
 
3
 · 8H
 
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.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:

- +
16.9.1Gehlenite
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
16.9.2Anorthite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.3Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
16.9.4Svyatoslavite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.5Dmisteinbergite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.6Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
16.9.7Vuagnatite
CaAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.8Zoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.9Clinozoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.10Prehnite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
16.9.11Kamaishilite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.12Bicchulite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.13Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.9.14Chantalite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.15Cebollite
Ca
 
5
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
 or near
16.9.17Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
16.9.18Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
16.9.19Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
16.9.20Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.9.21Vertumnite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
·3H
 
2
O
16.9.23Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.24Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.25Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.26Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
16.9.27Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
16.9.28Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·6H
 
2
O
16.9.30Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
16.9.31Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
·8H
 
2
O
16.9.32Amstallite
CaAl(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
4
·(H
 
2
O,Cl)
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
77.1.5.1Natrolite
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Scolecite

Synonyms:
Acicular stoneEllagiteEpiscoleciteEpiskoleciteLime Mesotype
ScolésiteWeissian
Other Languages:
German:Ellagit
Episcolecit
Episkolecit
Scolecit
Scolésit
Scolezit
Skolezit
Russian:Сколецит
Spanish:Ellagita
Episcolecita
Episkolecita
Scolecita
Scolésita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:May be yellow to brown in LW and SW
Electrical:Pyreoelectric, 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 Scolecite

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

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1984): 166: 219-223.

Kvick, A., Stahl, K., and Smith J.V. (1985) A neutron diffraction study of the bonding of zeolitic water in scolecite at 20K. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 171: 141-154.

Comodi, P., G.D. Gatta, & P.F. Zanazzi (2002), High-pressure behavior of scolecite: European Journal of Mineralogy: 14: 567-574.

Internet Links for Scolecite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Scolecite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Scolecite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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