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Scolecite
Current inventory:  1 gem
 

   

Scolecite

Chemistry:  CaAl2Si3O10·3(H2O)

Discovered in 1813;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
The name Scolecite is f
rom the Greek word skolec for "worm" in reference to the mineral's reaction to a flame because it sometimes curls up like a worm.

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/J.21-60

 

8 : Silicates
J : Tectosilicates (network) without anions unfamiliar to the tetraheders
21 : Zeolite group, Natrolite - Thomsonite series

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Domatic

Crystal Habit:

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.

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

[110] Perfect

Fracture:

Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

5.0 - 5.5

Density:

2.16 - 2.40 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

May fluoresce yellow to brown under SW and LW UV

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

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

Pleochroism:

None

 

 

Occurances

   

   

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

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 


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.
 

  
Scolecite gems for sale:

Scolecite-001

Gem:

Scolecite

Stock #:

SCOLE-001

Weight:

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 ]

Pictures are of the actual gem offered for sale.
Gem images are magnified to show detail.

Scolecite-001

A very nice example of a very rare gem. This one is large and very clean for the type.

 



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