SCOLECITE CRYSTALS

SCOLECITE CRYSTALS

A specimen of Scolecite Crystals.  A cluster of transparent crystals with no matrix whatsoever.  A beautiful mineral from India, one of many great collectible specimens that come from there.  This piece would be a great addition to a mineral collection, it is very aesthetic and will take up just a small amount of  cabinet space.

Location:
Bidkin, Maharashtra, India.

Dimensions:
8.4cm x 6cm x 1.4cm, 19g.

Scolecite:
Ca(Si₃Al₂)O₁₀ · 3H₂O

Though somewhat rare, Scolecite is a popular mineral among collectors. It forms in volcanic bubbles called vesicles along with other zeolites. Scolecite’s sprays of radiating crystals are something that everyone who loves minerals will appreciate. From the Greek, word skolex or “worm” in reference to the mineral’s reaction to the blowpipe flame.

Scolecite’s structure has a typical zeolite openness about it that allows large ions and molecules to reside and actually move around inside the overall framework. The structure contains open channels that allow water and large ions to travel into and out of the crystal structure. The size of these channels controls the size of the molecules or ions and therefore a zeolite like Scolecite can act as a chemical sieve. Scolecite’s structure contains aligned chains of silicate tetrahedrons. This produces the needle-like crystals and the cleavage results from the weaker bonds between the chains.

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