Pectolite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Pectolite

Entry/Object ID

2014.2.27

Description

Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3 Crystal System: Hexagonal System Description: Common Name: Pectolite Chemistry: NaCa2Si3O8(OH) Group: Silicates Location: California Description: Specimmen has splayed crystals on outer regions and also has some small quartz crystals scattered about on top of specimen. Physical Charateristics: •Color is white, colorless or gray and also pale to sky blue in Lorimar. •Luster is vitreous to silky. •Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent. •Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1 •Crystal Habits include fibrous tufts, radiating acicular crystal clusters and compact or botryoidal masses. •Cleavage is perfect in two direction at close to right angles. •Fracture is splintery due to the cleavage. •Hardness is 4.5 - 5 •Specific Gravity is approximately 2.7 - 2.9 (average) •Streak is white. •Associated Minerals are various zeolites, prehnite, calcite, datolite and serpentine. •Other Characteristics: Splinters of pectolite do not bend and are brittle. They are also sharp and can easily puncture the skin if not handled properly. Also some specimens can be triboluminescent. •Notable Occurrences include Lake Co., California and Paterson and Franklin, New Jersey, USA; Bahamas, Dominican Republic; Italy and England. •Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, association with zeolites, brittleness and cleavage. Hardness: 7 Quartz Rock Type: Sedimentary

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Dimensions

Height

3-1/8 in

Width

1 in

Length

1-7/8 in

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-11

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent

Moved By

Curtis Gardner

Date

December 27, 2023

Location

Shelf

3rd shelf

Cabinet

Case# 20

Wall

West

Building

Freida Smith Hall

Category

Permanent