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Mordenite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  (Ca;Na₂;K₂)Al₂Si₁₀O₂₄ · 7(H₂O)
[Hydrated Calcium Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate]

Discovered in 1864;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Mordenite is named after its location of discovery: Morden, (3-5 km east of Morden) Bay of Fundy, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/J.22-30

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.GD.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H₂O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Pyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Prismatic crystals, elongated; acicular to fine fibrous, to 2.5 cm. In radiating groups or cottony aggregates; compact, porcelaneous.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[100] Perfect, [010] Distinct

Fracture:

Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

3.0 - 5.0

Density:

2.10 - 2.15 (g/cm³)

Radioactivity:

Barely Detectable, GRapi = 6.53 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Optical Properties

Color:

Colourless, White, Yellowish, Pinkish

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent, Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous, Pearly, Silky if fibrous

Refractive Index:

1.472 - 1.487  Biaxial ( + ) or ( - )

Birefringence:

0.005

Dispersion:

None

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In veins and amygdules in various igneous rocks; a hydration product of volcanic glasses; an authigenic mineral in sediments.

Type Locality:

Morden, Bay of Fundy, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, Canada

Year Discovered:

1864

View mineral photos:

Mordenite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Mordenite is a member of the Zeolite Group of minerals that includes over 40 minerals and these gem-type minerals: Analcime, Barrerite, Chabazite, Epistilbite, Gmelinite-Na, Goosecreekite, Mordenite, Natrolite, Pollucite, Scolecite, Stellerite, Stilbite, Thomsonite and Yugawaralite. Mordenite is not a rare mineral but it is very rarely available as a cabochoned gem because it is typically found only as very fine, radiating needles or cottony aggregates. Cabochoned gems do have a beautiful silky luster. It is available from many sources worldwide.
 

  
Mordenite gems for sale:

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