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| Chemistry:
CaAl2Si3O10·3(H2O) | Discovered
in 1813;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). The name
Scolecite is from the Greek
word skolec for
"worm"
in reference to the mineral's reaction to a flame because
it sometimes curls up like a worm. |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Silicates |
Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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8/J.21-60 |
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8 : Silicates J : Tectosilicates (network) without anions unfamiliar to the
tetraheders 21 : Zeolite group, Natrolite - Thomsonite series
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Monoclinic - Domatic |
Crystal
Habit:
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Crystals
are slender prismatic, may be square in cross section,
elongated and striated, to 30 cm. Characteristically
in radiating sprays, fibrous masses; nodular, massive.
Twinning: On [100], twin axis [001], common, as contact
or penetration twins.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
[110] Perfect
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Fracture: |
Uneven
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
5.0
- 5.5
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Density:
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2.16
- 2.40 (g/cm3) |
Luminescence:
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May
fluoresce yellow to brown under SW and LW UV
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Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Colorless,
White, Pink, Salmon, Red, Brownish, Green |
Transparency: |
Transparent to Subtransparent |
Luster: |
Vitreous,
Silky |
Refractive
Index: |
1.507 - 1.521 Biaxial
( - ) |
Birefringence: |
0.010 |
Dispersion: |
Relatively
Strong; r
< v
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Pleochroism: |
None
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
Primarily
in cavities in basalts; in gneisses and amphibolites,
and in laccoliths and dikes derived from syenitic and
gabbroic magmas. |
Type
Locality: |
Kaiserstuhl in Baden |
Year
Discovered: |
1813 |
View
mineral photos: |
Scolecite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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Scolecite
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.
Scolecite is not a rare mineral but crystals large enough
for faceting are very rare and usually kept as mineral
specimens by collectors. The small number of faceted
gems that exist are usually small and colorless. Chatoyant
cabochons are occassionally available. Scolecite is pyroelectric
and piezoelectric.
Current sources of Scolecite crystals are in
the Poona, Nasik, and Bombay districts, Maharashtra,
India; and near Bento Goncalves, Rio Grande do Sul,
Brazil. Non-gem specimens can be found in the USA on
the south fork of the Toutle River, Cowlitz Co., in
the Pioneer quarry, Bremerton, Kitsap Co., and other
localities in Washington; and on North Table Mountain,
Golden, Jefferson Co., Colorado.
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Scolecite
gems for sale:
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Gem:
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Scolecite |
Stock
#:
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SCOLE-001 |
Weight:
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0.4125
ct |
Size: |
6.88
x 4.24 x 2.93 mm |
Shape: |
Oval |
Color: |
Colorless |
Clarity: |
VSI |
Origin: |
India |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$148.00
[
Make an offer ]
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Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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A
very nice example of a very rare gem. This
one is large and very clean for the type.
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