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Stilbite

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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 (1899)



Colour:WhiteHardness:3½ - 4
Member of:Zeolite Group
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.
Stilbite is easily confused with stellerite.

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
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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:
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Stilbite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stilbite no.6 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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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

Member of:Zeolite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Alflarsenite
NaCa
 
2
Be
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
13
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
Amicite
K
 
2
Na
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
Ammonioleucite
(NH
 
4
,K)(AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
)
Analcime
Na
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
Barrerite
(Na,K,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
Bellbergite
(K,Ba,Sr)
 
2
Sr
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Ca,Na)
 
4
[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
Bikitaite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
 · H
 
2
O
Boggsite
Ca
 
8
Na
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
96
O
 
192
 · 70H
 
2
O
Brewsterite
Brewsterite-Ba
(Ba,Sr)[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
Brewsterite-Sr
(Sr,Ba,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
Chabazite
Chabazite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chabazite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chabazite-Levyne Subgroup
Chabazite-Mg
(Mg
 
0.7
K
 
0.5
Ca
 
0.5
Na
 
0.1
)[Al
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
]·10H
 
2
O
Chabazite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chabazite-Sr
Sr
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Chiavennite
CaMnBe
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Clinoptilolite-Ca
(Ca,Na,K)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Clinoptilolite-K
(K,Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Clinoptilolite-Na
(Na,K,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 6H
 
2
O
Dachiardite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
 · 25H
 
2
O
Dachiardite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
 · 25H
 
2
O
Direnzoite
NaK
 
6
MgCa
 
2
(Al
 
13
Si
 
47
O
 
120
) · 36H
 
2
O
Edingtonite
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
Erionite
Erionite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
Erionite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
Erionite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
Faujasite Subgroup
Faujasite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
Faujasite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,Ca)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
Faujasite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
Ferrierite
Ferrierite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
] · 18H
 
2
O
Ferrierite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
] · 18H
 
2
O
Ferrierite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
] · 18H
 
2
O
Flörkeite
(K
 
3
Ca
 
2
Na)[Al
 
8
Si
 
8
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
Garronite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Al
 
12
Si
 
20
O
 
64
 · 27H
 
2
O
Gaultite
Na
 
4
Zn
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
 · 5H
 
2
O
Gismondine
Gismondine-Ba
Ba
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
 · 4-6H
 
2
O
Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
 · 4H
 
2
O
Gmelinite
Gmelinite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Gmelinite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Gmelinite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Gobbinsite
Na
 
4
(Ca,Mg,K
 
2
)Al
 
6
Si
 
10
O
 
32
 · 12H
 
2
O
Gonnardite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
Gottardiite
Na
 
3
Mg
 
3
Ca
 
5
Al
 
19
Si
 
117
O
 
272
 · 93H
 
2
O
Harmotome
(Ba
 
0.5
,Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na)
 
5
[Al
 
5
Si
 
11
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Ba
(Ba,Ca,K,Na,Sr)
 
5
Al
 
9
Si
 
27
O
 
72
 · 22H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Ca
(Ca,Na)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-K
(K,Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Na
(Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Heulandite-Sr
(Sr,Na,Ca)
 
2-3
Al
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
2
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 12H
 
2
O
Hsianghualite
Ca
 
3
Li
 
2
(Be
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
)F
 
2
IMA2012-039
Ca
 
1-2
Fe[(Si,Al,Be)
 
5
Be
 
2
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
]•2H
 
2
O
Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
 · 4H
 
2
O
Leucite
K(AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
)
Lévyne
Lévyne-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Lévyne-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
Lovdarite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
4
(Be,Al)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
Maricopaite
Pb
 
7
Ca
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
48
O
 
100
 · 32H
 
2
O
Mazzite-Mg
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
Ca
 
1.5
Al
 
9.5
Si
 
26.5
O
 
72
 · 28H
 
2
O or near
Mazzite-Na
Na
 
4
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
]
 
2
 · 30H
 
2
O
Merlinoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba)
 
2
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
 · 23H
 
2
O
Mesolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
9
Al
 
6
O
 
30
 · 8H
 
2
O
Montesommaite
(K,Na)
 
9
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
 · 10H
 
2
O
Mordenite
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
 · 7H
 
2
O
Mutinaite
Na
 
3
Ca
 
4
Si
 
85
Al
 
11
O
 
192
 · 60H
 
2
O
Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
Natrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 2H
 
2
O
Natrolite Subgroup
Offretite
KCaMgAl
 
5
Si
 
13
O
 
36
 · 16H
 
2
O or near
Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
 · 38H
 
2
O
Paranatrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
Paulingite
Paulingite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ba)
 
5
[Al
 
10
Si
 
35
O
 
90
] · 45H
 
2
O
Paulingite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Ba)
 
5
[Al
 
10
Si
 
35
O
 
90
] · 45H
 
2
O
Paulingite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Ba)
 
5
[Al
 
10
Si
 
35
O
 
90
] · 45H
 
2
O
Perlialite
K
 
9
Na(Ca,Sr)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 15H
 
2
O
Phillipsite-Ca
(Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na,Ba
 
0.5
)
 
4-7
[Al
 
4-7
Si
 
12-9
O
 
32
.
 
 12H2O
Phillipsite-K
(K,Na,Ca
 
0.5
,Ba
 
0.5
)
 
4-7
[Al
 
4-7
Si
 
12-9
O
 
32
]
.
 
 12H
 
2
O
Phillipsite-Na
(Na,K,Ca
 
0.5
,Ba
 
0.5
)
 
4-7
[Al
 
4-7
Si
 
12-9
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
Pollucite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
Roggianite
Ca
 
2
Be(OH)
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
 · 2.5H
 
2
O
Scolecite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
Stilbite-Ca
NaCa
 
4
[Al
 
9
Si
 
27
O
 
72
] · nH
 
2
O
Stilbite-Na
(Na,Ca,K)
 
6-7
[Al
 
8
Si
 
28
O
 
72
] · nH
 
2
O
Terranovaite
(Na,Ca)
 
8
(Si
 
68
Al
 
12
)O
 
160
 · 29H
 
2
O
Tetranatrolite
Thomsonite-Ca
NaCa
 
2
[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
] · 6H
 
2
O
Thomsonite-Sr
Na(Sr,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
5
Si
 
5
O
 
20
] · 7H
 
2
O
Tschernichite
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 4-8H
 
2
O
Tschörtnerite
Ca
 
4
(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)
 
3
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
Wairakite
Ca(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
Weinebeneite
CaBe
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Wenkite
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
Willhendersonite
KCa[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
] · 5H
 
2
O
Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
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,Ca)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
16.10.6Mesolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
9
Al
 
6
O
 
30
 · 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
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
Desmin
Garbenstilbit
Strahlzeolith
Hungarian:Dezmin
Japanese:束沸石
Polish:Stilbit
Simplified Chinese:辉沸石
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, A. (1939): The relation of stellerite and epidesmine to stilbite. Mineralogical Magazine 25, 271-276. [Abstract in: 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.

Mindat.org articles 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:
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
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    New Locality Added: Lohsdorf, Leiben, Waldviertel, Lower Austria, AustriaFrom Peter Neschen, 25th May 2013 09:59:06