Scolecite Mineral Data

Scolecite Mineral Data +

General Scolecite Information

Chemical Formula:

CaAl2Si3O10·3(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 392.34 gm

Calcium 10.22 % Ca 14.29 % CaO

Aluminum 13.75 % Al 25.99 % Al₂O₃

Silicon 21.48 % Si 45.94 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 1.54 % H 13.78 % H₂O

Oxygen 53.01 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CaAl₂Si₃O₁₀·3(H₂O)

Environment:

Low temperature alteration of basalts and related rocks.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1813

Locality:

Kaiserstuhl in Baden. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek, skolec = 'worm' in reference to the mineral's reaction to the blowpipe flame.

Synonym:

ICSD 30967

PDF 41-1355

Scolecite Image

Images:

Scolecite

Comments: Delicate cluster spray of colorless transparent acicular crystals of scolecite. The scolecites measure to 3 mm in thickness.
Location: Nasik district, Maharashtra, India. Scale: 5 x 3.5 x 9.5 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Scolecite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.3438:1:0.5151

Cell Dimensions:

a = 6.516, b = 18.948, c = 9.761, Z = 4; beta = 108.98° V = 1,139.62 Den(Calc)= 2.29

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - DomaticH-M Symbol (m) Space Group: Cc

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.882(1), 5.85(1), 6.59(0.9),

Crystal Structure:

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Comodi P , Gatta G D , Zanazzi P F , European Journal of Mineralogy , 14 (2002) p.567-574, High-pressure structural behaviour of scolecite, Sample: P = .0001 GPa

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Scolecite
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Physical Properties of Scolecite

Cleavage:

[110] Perfect

Color:

Brownish, Colorless, White.

Density:

2.16 - 2.4, Average = 2.28

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to subtranslucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Uneven - Very brittle fracture producing uneven fragments.

Habit:

Massive - Fibrous - Distinctly fibrous fine-grained forms.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Hardness:

5-5.5 - Apatite-Knife Blade

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous - Silky

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Scolecite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.005 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2252,KPDmeas= 0.2262,KC= 0.2262

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.507-1.513, b=1.516-1.52, g=1.517-1.521, bire=0.0080-0.0100, 2V(Calc)=36-40, 2V(Meas)=36-56. Dispersion relatively strong.

Pleochroism (x):

colorless.

Pleochroism (y):

colorless.

Pleochroism (z):

colorless.

Calculated Properties of Scolecite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.30 gm/cc
note: r_Scolecite=2.28 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01042
Boson Index = 0.98958

Photoelectric:

PE_Scolecite= 2.50 barns/electron
U=PE_Scolecite x r_electron= 5.75 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Scolecite is Not Radioactive

Scolecite Classification

Dana Class:

77.1.5.5 (77)Tectosilicate Zeolite group

(77.1)true zeolites

(77.1.5)Natrolite and related species

77.1.5.1 Natrolite Na2[Al2Si3O10]·2(H2O) F dd2 mm2

77.1.5.2 Tetranatrolite? Na2[Al2Si3O10]·2(H2O) I 42d 4 2m

77.1.5.3 Paranatrolite Na2[Al2Si3O10]·3(H2O) Cc m

77.1.5.4 Mesolite Na2Ca2Al6Si9O30·8(H2O) C 2 2

77.1.5.5 Scolecite CaAl2Si3O10·3(H2O) Cc m

77.1.5.6 Edingtonite BaAl2Si3O10·4(H2O) P 2₁2₁2 2 2 2

77.1.5.7 Gonnardite Na2CaAl4Si6O20·7(H2O) I 42d 4 2m

77.1.5.8 Cowlesite CaAl2Si3O10·5-6(H2O) P 222₁, P mmm, Pmm2 Ortho

77.1.5.9 Thomsonite-Ca NaCa2Al5Si5O20·6(H2O) Pncn 2/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.5.10 Thomsonite-Sr! (Sr,Ca)2Na[Al5Si5O20]·7(H2O) Pcnn 2/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.5.11 Nabesite! Na2BeSi4O10·4(H2O) P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

Strunz Class:

VIII/J.21-60 VIII - Silicates

VIII/J - Tectosilicates (network), with zeolite-structure, Bladed Zeolites

VIII/J.21 - Zeolite group, Natrolite - Thomsonite series

VIII/J.21-10 Natrolite Na2[Al2Si3O10]·2(H2O) F dd2 mm2

VIII/J.21-20 Paranatrolite Na2[Al2Si3O10]·3(H2O) Cc m

VIII/J.21-30 Tetranatrolite? Na2[Al2Si3O10]·2(H2O) I 42d 4 2m

VIII/J.21-40 Gonnardite Na2CaAl4Si6O20·7(H2O) I 42d 4 2m

VIII/J.21-50 Mesolite Na2Ca2Al6Si9O30·8(H2O) C 2 2

VIII/J.21-60 Scolecite CaAl2Si3O10·3(H2O) Cc m

VIII/J.21-70 Thomsonite-Ca NaCa2Al5Si5O20·6(H2O) Pncn 2/m 2/m 2/m

VIII/J.21-80 Thomsonite-Sr! (Sr,Ca)2Na[Al5Si5O20]·7(H2O) Pcnn 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Scolecite Information

References:

NAME( Ford32) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Scolecite

CaAl2Si3O10·3(H2O)
Dana No: 77.1.5.5 Strunz No: VIII/J.21-60
Locality:

Notes: