Erionite-K
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About Erionite-K
Formula:
(K2,Ca,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1898 by Arthur Starr Eakle from the Greek εριον meaning wool in allusion to the "wooly" appearance of the type material. Erionite was first found at the Durkee Fire Opal Mine, Swayze Creek, Durkee, Baker Co., Oregon (Tschernich, 1992). In modern nomenclature, the original erionite was erionite-Na, but potassium was nearly equal to sodium. Levinson Rule suffix added in allusion to K dominant excangable cations.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
A zeolite difficult to distinguish from offrétite.
Classification of Erionite-K
Approved
8/J.26-92
9.GD.20
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
Physical Properties of Erionite-K
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Optical Data of Erionite-K
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.471 nε = 1.474
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.003
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemical Properties of Erionite-K
Formula:
(K2,Ca,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O
IMA Formula:
K10[Si26Al10O72] · 30H2O
Crystallography of Erionite-K
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.15 Å, c = 15.05 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.144
Unit Cell V:
2,253.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Type Occurrence of Erionite-K
Other Language Names for Erionite-K
Russian:Эрионит-K
Relationship of Erionite-K to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Erionite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Erionite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| Clinoptilolite-Ca | 3 photos of Erionite-K associated with Clinoptilolite-Ca on mindat.org. |
| Phillipsite-K | 3 photos of Erionite-K associated with Phillipsite-K on mindat.org. |
| Offretite | 3 photos of Erionite-K associated with Offretite on mindat.org. |
| Montmorillonite | 3 photos of Erionite-K associated with Montmorillonite on mindat.org. |
| Paulingite-K | 1 photo of Erionite-K associated with Paulingite-K on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-Ca | Ca2(Si8Al4O24] · 11H2O | Hex. |
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-K | K4(Si8Al4O24) · 11H2O | Hex. |
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-Na | Na4(Si8Al4O24] · 11H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| 9.GD.10 | Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O | Tric. |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O | |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O | |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Sr | Sr2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O | |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Mg | (Mg0.7K0.5Ca0.5Na0.1)[Al3Si9O24]·10H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| 9.GD.15 | Lévyne-Ca | (Ca,Na2,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| 9.GD.15 | Lévyne-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O | Trig. |
| 9.GD.20 | Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O | Hex. |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| 9.GD.25 | Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O | Hex. 6 m2 : P6m2 |
| 9.GD.25 | Wenkite | (Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(SO4)3|(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2] · 0.5H2O | Hex. |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O | Iso. |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Mg | (Mg,Na2,Ca)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O | Iso. |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Na | (Na2,Ca,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O | Iso. |
| 9.GD.35 | Maricopaite | Pb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2O | Orth. |
| 9.GD.35 | Mordenite | (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O | Orth. |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O | Mon. |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O | Mon. |
| 9.GD.45 | Epistilbite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2O | Mon. |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-K | (K2,Na2,Mg,Ca)3-5Mg[Al5-7Si27.5-31O72] · 18H2O | Orth. |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-Mg | (Mg,Na2,K2,Ca)3-5Mg[Al5-7Si27.5-31O72] · 18H2O | Orth. |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-Na | (Na2,K2,Mg,Ca)3-5Mg[Al5-7Si27.5-31O72] · 18H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| 9.GD.55 | Bikitaite | LiAlSi2O6 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Carcinogenic upon inhalation of its dust, due to its fibrous structure (Ref.: IARC Monography 42:225-239, 1987)
References for Erionite-K
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Sheppard, R.A. and Gude, A.J. (1969b) Chemical composition and physical properties of the related zeolites offretite and erionite. American Mineralogist: 54: 875-886.
Gualtieri, A., G. Artioli, E. Passaglia, S. Bigi, A. Viani, and J.C. Hanson (1998): Crystal structure-crystal chemistry relationships in the zeolites erionite and offretite American Mineralogist: 83, 590-606.
Passaglia, E., G. Artioli, and A. Gualtieri (1998): Crystal chemistry of the zeolites erionite and offretite American Mineralogist: 83, 577-589.
Internet Links for Erionite-K
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-6916.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Erionite-K
ⓘ - Click for further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (eg from pseudomorphs.)
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.161; American Mineralogist, Volume 67, pages 799-803, 1982,RRUFF database-specimen I.D RO61104 |
| Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.161 |
China | |
| Letian Du and Wenguang Wang (2012): Geological Review 58(6), 1017-1022 |
Czech Republic | |
| P. Pauliš,L.Hrůzek,O.Janeček,J.Sejkora,R.Malíková,O.Pour and F.Fediuk(2015)-Tschernichite,Garronite-Ca and associated zeolite mineralization from Jehla near Česká Kamenice(Czech Republic).Bulletin miner.-petrolog. odď.National muz. Prag,23,2,2015. |
| P.Pauliš,L.Hrůzek,O.Janeček,J.Sejkora,R.Malíková,F.Fedyuk(2014)Dachiardite-Ca and associated mineralization from Doubice-Vápenka near Krásná Lípa(Czech Republic).Bull.Min.-Pet.od.Národní muzeum Praha 22,1 |
Germany | |
| Dogan,Umran and Dugan,Meral (2008) Re-evaluation and re-classification of erionite series minerals,Environ Geochem Health 30:355-366 |
New Zealand | |
| J. Thornton in Micro-Scope, March 2007 |
UK | |
| Luigi Matei photo |
Ukraine | |
| Domenico Preite |
USA | |
| Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.143 |
| AM61_853 |
| azminerals.com |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 160, 250; Bideaux, R.A., et al (1960), Some new occurrences of minerals of AZ, AZ Geol. Soc. Digest: 3: 53-56; Thomssen, R.W. (1983), The minerals of Malpais Hill, Pinal Co., AZ, Min.Rec.: 14: 109-113. |
| azminerals.com | |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 160, 250; Bideaux, R.A., et al (1960), Some new occurrences of minerals of AZ, AZ Geol. Soc. Digest: 3: 53-56; Thomssen, R.W. (1983), The minerals of Malpais Hill, Pinal Co., AZ, Min.Rec.: 14: 109-113. | |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.:216 |
| Dogan, Umran and Dogan,Meral (2008) Re-evaluation and re-classification of erionite series minerals:Environ Geochem Health (2008)30:355-366 |
| Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.159 |
| Micro Probe Vol. 9 No. 3, Spring '01; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 116 |
| Dogan,Umran and Dogan,Meral(2008) Re-evaluation and re-classification of erionite series minerals:Environ Geochem Health(2008)30:355-366 |
| The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 35, pp. 1571-1606 (1997) |
| Tschernich (1991): Zeolites of Washington State. Rock & Minerals, 66(4); American Mineralogist, Volume 67, pages 799-803, 1982 |
North railway cut, Malpais Hill, Dudleyville, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA