Name/Title
Scolecite/FluorapophylliteEntry/Object ID
2009.62.66Description
Chemical Composition: see description
Crystal System: Tetragonal System
Description: Common: Apophyllite / Scolecite :
Chemistry: (K,Na)Ca4Si8O20(F,OH) - 8H2O, Hydrated Potassium Calcium Sodium Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide / CaAl2Si3O10-3H2O, Hydrated calcium aluminum silicate
Group: Zeolites
Location: Jalgaon, India
Description: Large cluster of hairlike crystals, white to light pink with a cluster of light green crystals intertwinned at the base.
THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF APOPHYLLITE:
Color is clear, white, green, yellow, pink, violet or rarely brown.
Luster is vitreous to pearly on cleavage surfaces.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is tetragonal; 4/m 2/m 2/m; natroapophyllite is orthorhombic, 2/m 2/m 2/m.
Crystal Habits include four sided prisms (with a square cross-section) truncated with either a steep four sided pyramid or a pinacoid termination or both. If the pyramids are missing, the crystals can look cubic. Rarely are the prisms missing, but if they are, crystals could appear octahedral because of the four sided pyramids. The faces of the pyramids do not lineup with the prism faces but with their edges, therefore the pyramid faces have four edges and appear diamond shaped instead of triangular like the pyramid faces of quartz. Rare tabular hydroxyapophyllite crystals are also known.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction (basal).
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 4.5 - 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.3 - 2.4 (lighter than most translucent minerals).
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Prism faces are striated lengthwise, some specimens are fluorescent and crystals will flake when heated.
Associated Minerals are prehnite, quartz, heulandite, stilbite, natrolite, analcime, datolite, babingtonite, cavansite, calcite, idocrase, wollastonite, kinoite, gyrolite and many other zeolites.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, striations, associations, environment of formation, cleavage and luster on cleavage surfaces.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SCOLECITE
Color is clear or white.
Luster is vitreous to silky.
Transparency: crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include sprays of thin acicular crystals with slanted terminations. Also occurs in radiating fibrous clusters.
Cleavage is perfect in two directions, prismatic. Cleavage is hard to see due to small crystal size.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.2 (very light)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are quartz, apophyllite, babingtonite, heulandite, stilbite and other zeolites.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, hardness, density and associations.
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 4 Flourite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Apophyllite specimens are found in ancient lava and basalt flows. The crystals grow in the now solid cavities, called amygdules or vesicles, formed by air bubbles when the rock was molten. Apophyllite is also found in the voids in the contact metamorphic zone limestones that surround intrusive rocks.
Scolecite also from in much the same setting as apophyllite and other zeolites.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.3-2.4
Streak: white
Variety: The name apophyllite is derived from the Greek apophylliso, meaning "it flakes off," a reference to this class's tendency flake apart when heated, due to water loss and refers to a specific group of phyllosilicates, a class of minerals that also includes the micas.
Scolecite, a calcium zeolite, natrolite, a sodium zeolite, and mesolite, a calcium and sodium zeolite, are closely related and sometimes found together.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
6-1/2 inDepth
3-1/2 inLength
5 inWeight
3.86 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Display Case
DS-6Room
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
May 24, 2023Notes
Added current locationLocation
Container
CenterDrawer
3rd ShelfShelf
Center, CenterWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
January 14, 2010Location
Drawer
2nd from rightShelf
middle 3rd shelf, middle 3rd shelfWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Scott LonganDate
September 25, 2009Location
Wall
south wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Josh E.Date
September 19, 2009Location
Container
CenterDrawer
Top ShelfShelf
CenterCabinet
Case #41Wall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
Permanent