Name/Title
Mesolite on ApophylliteEntry/Object ID
2004.1.87Description
Chemical Composition: CaAl2Si3O10-3H2O
Crystal System: Monoclinic System
Description: Common Name: Scolectie
Group Name: Zeolite
Chemistry: CaAl2Si3O10-3H2O,
Location: Wagholi , India
Description: Green cubic crystals with white puffballs.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
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: 5 Apatite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: It forms in volcanic bubbles called vesicles along with other zeolites
Notable Occurrences include Poona, India; Riverside Co., California; Iceland; Skye Scotland and Santa Catarina, Brazil
Specific Gravity: 2.2
Streak: white
Variety: Scolecite, a calcium zeolite, natrolite, a sodium zeolite, and mesolite, a calcium and sodium zeolite, are closely related and sometimes found together. The presence of calcium in two of the minerals slightly alters the structure from that of natrolite; from an orthorhombic symmetry to a monoclinic symmetry. However, twinning of scolecite and mesolite often make them look orthorhombic All three minerals are referred to as "chain" or "needle" zeolites. They are similar and hard to distinguish when in clusters with radiating, acicular habits. Natrolite tends to forms thin crystals with pyramidal terminations, but mesolite's fibrous crystals are usually the thinnest crystals of the three minerals. Scolecite's larger crystals tend to be more robust and durable. These characteristics are only generalities and can not be used as dependable identifying traits. Absolute identification can not be made by ordinary meansCollection
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2004.1Source or Donor
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Height
3 inWidth
6-1/2 inLength
7-1/2 inWeight
2.61 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Category
PermanentMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
May 25, 2023Notes
Added current locationLocation
Drawer
3rd from leftShelf
Bottom East, Bottom EastWall
northHallway
Discovery HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Lehman R.Date
August 26, 2009Location
Cabinet
Case #56Wall
CenterBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
Permanent
