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

Stilbite

Big Photo

Millington Quarry (Morris County Crushed Stone Co. Quarry; Tilcon Quarry), Bernards Township, Somerset Co., New Jersey, USA
© 2003 John H. Betts

Show Stilbite Photos (782)
Colour:WhiteHardness:3½ - 4
Name:From Greek "stilbein", to glitter of shine, or "stilbe", a mirror, alluding to its pearly or vitreous luster.
Synonym of:Stilbite-Ca, Stilbite-Na


This name now refers to the minerals Stilbite-Ca and Stilbite-Na.

Classification of Stilbite

Hey's CIM Ref.:16.10.21

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
10 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and alkalis
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3785.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Physical Properties of Stilbite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Colour:White
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Density (measured):2.18 - 2.2 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.23 g/cm3

Crystallography of Stilbite

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Stilbite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stilbite no.6 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.

Optical Data of Stilbite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.479 - 1.492 nβ = 1.485 - 1.500 nγ = 1.489 - 1.505
2V:Measured: 22° to 79°, Calculated: 76° to 78°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010 - 0.013

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:weak

Relationship of Stilbite to other Species

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
(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
16.10.22Dachiardite
(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 Stilbite

Synonyms:
DesmineDesmine (of Breithaupt)EpidesmineGarbenstilbitePuflerite
Other Languages:
Catalan:Estilbita
Danish:Stilbit
Dutch:Stilbiet
German:Stilbit
Garbenstilbit
Hungarian:Dezmin
Japanese:束沸石
Polish:Stilbit
Spanish:Garbenstilbita
Stilbita
Ukrainian:Десмін

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 Stilbite

Reference List:Haüy R.J. (1796), Journal des mines, 5, 276.

Pabst, Adolf (1939), The relation of stellerite and epidesmine to stilbite: Mineralogical Magazine: 25: 271-276; …(abstract): American Mieralogist: 24: 63 (1939).

Slaughter, M. (1970), Crystal structure of stilbite: American Mineralogist: 55: 387-397.

Cruciani, G., G. Artioli, A. Gualtieri, K. Stahl, and J.C. Hanson (1997), Dehydration dynamics of stilbite using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction: American Mineralogist: 82: 729-739.

Articles/Blogs about Stilbite

Article entries:
"Ladder Day" CollectingPaul Gilmore

Internet Links for Stilbite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Stilbite on Google
  • Look for Stilbite images on Google
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Stilbite specimens
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Find Stilbite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

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

    Localities for Stilbite

    Show Locality List (1098 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.