Name/Title
StilbiteEntry/Object ID
2004.1.172Description
Assemblage Zone: pegmatite dikes
Chemical Composition: NaCa2Al5Si13O36 -14H2O
Crystal System: Monoclinic System
Description: Common Name: Stilbite
Group Name: silicates
Chemistry: (Ca,Na)3Al5(Al,Si)Si14O40*15H20
Location: Poona, India
Description: Light clear/tanish crystals randomly extending from semi-planar base.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is pink or white; also tinted yellow and red.
Luster is vitreous to pearly especially on the prominant pinacoid and cleavage surfaces.
Transparency: crystals are transparent to mostly translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include platy often thin crystals that can aggregate together into a wheat sheaflike structure. The prominant pinacoid is sometimes but rarely modified by other pinacoid and prism faces. Cruciform (cross-like) twins can also be found. Also forms radiating nodules.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction parallel to the prominant pinacoid.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3.5 - 4.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.2 (very light)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are quartz, calcite, babingtonite, apophyllite, heulandite, natrolite and other zeolites.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, luster, density and associations.
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Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 3 Calcite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Stilbite crystals can aggregate together to form a structure resembling wheat sheafs. This hourglass structure looks like several crystals stacked parallel to each other with the tops and bottoms of this structure fanning out while the middle remains thin. Stilbite's hallmark crystal habit is unique to stilbite and a rarer but related zeolite called stellerite. Whether in the wheat sheafs or not, stilbite can be a hansome specimen with its pearly luster and often colorful pink tints. Stilbite commonly forms nice crystals inside the petrified bubbles (called vesicles) of volcanic rocks that have undergone a small amount of metamorphism
Notable Occurrences include Poona, India; Scotland; Iceland; New Jersey and Nova Scotia, Canada.
Specific Gravity: 2.2
Streak: white
Variety: n/aCollection
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2004.1Source or Donor
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
3-5/8 inDepth
1-3/16 inLength
3-11/16 inDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Container
LeftDrawer
2nd ShelfShelf
Right, RightWall
NorthBuilding
Founders RoomCategory
PermanentMoved By
Ray BlohmDate
February 20, 2012Location
Shelf
RightCabinet
Case # 7Room
Mentzer HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
Permanent
