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Identity HelpIs this a Heulandite or an Apophyllite

18th Mar 2018 21:10 UTCSean

The title says it all. I've found this years ago and I think it's time to find out what it is. I've found it in 2014 at some location in Nova Scotia. I most likely found it in Cape Blomidon.

18th Mar 2018 21:15 UTCWayne Corwin

Check it for UV.

18th Mar 2018 21:36 UTCSean

Why?

18th Mar 2018 21:46 UTCWayne Corwin

My first thought looking at it was, "pokerchip calcite".

I'm probably wrong.

18th Mar 2018 22:00 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

It is difficult to say what it is from that photo. Do you live in Nova Scotia? It would be better to show it to someone in person who is familiar with mineralogy.

18th Mar 2018 22:05 UTCSean

No, I don't. I traveled there in 2014. I guess I'll find some geologist in Ottawa who can help me if no one has any clue what this is.

18th Mar 2018 22:22 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Break a little crumb off and put it in acid (diluted pool acid, or even vinegar or lemon juice concentrate will do). I suspect it might fizz, in which case it's calcite and not either heulandite or apophyllite.

18th Mar 2018 22:59 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

Do you see a slight pearly lustre on the platy crystal face?

The crystal outline seems to indicate heulandite (which would show such a lustre).

18th Mar 2018 23:44 UTCMark Heintzelman 🌟 Expert

Agree with Uwe, the vast majority of Heulandites (save the Deccan Heulandites heavily included with celedonite) exhibit a fair to pronounced pearly luster. Here is a sample I have of Heulandite from Cape Blomidon, Nova Scotia, an older piece collected in the mid-1950s.(4" in length). It's luster is not as pronounced as some others, but does exhibit some pearly luster.

19th Mar 2018 00:03 UTCJohannes Swarts

Hi,

Crystal outline and what appears to be parting parallel to the outward-facing crystal faces suggests heulandite.

Hans

19th Mar 2018 00:14 UTCGary Moldovany

That's a coffin-shaped heulandite crystal for sure. Definitely not apophyllite.

19th Mar 2018 01:49 UTCSean

That's what I was thinking, but after looking at both pictures of Heulandites and Apophyllites, that's when I became confused because they both looked the same to me. However, I'm beginning to think that those who said "Heulandite" on this post are correct after looking at it multiple times.

19th Mar 2018 02:08 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

I presume everyone is commenting on the crystal that is at 1:00 o'clock in the first photo. It looks like heulandite to me.

Don

29th Jun 2018 12:22 UTCRonnie Van Dommelen 🌟 Manager

Sean,

I would agree that you specimen is heulandite. It looks very typical for the Blomidon / Cape Split area, on the chaulky white sinter.

29th Jun 2018 13:52 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

Looks like heulandite to me also

29th Jun 2018 22:27 UTCGary Weinstein

Yes to all the above. The coffin shape as well as the pearly surface luster is a dead give-away. Since Apophyllite is square in cross section, how were you confused?

30th Jun 2018 04:19 UTCSean

Wow, this post is months old. I never thought it would receive any attention from whomever (like getting the attention of the creator of this site) again. Thanks for replying, everyone.

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