Mineralpedia Details for Scolecite
Scolecite
Named for its worm-like behavior when heated, after the Greek word for “worm,” skolec. Many localities are known including exceptionally good crystals from Iceland, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, India, the USA, Mexico, and Brazil. Scolecite is found in cavities in basalts, in gneiss and amphibole, and in syenitic and gabbroic magma-derived dikes and laccoliths. Scolecite is pyroelectric, produces a charge when heated, and piezoelectric, produces a charge in response to pressure, and can fluoresce a yellow or brown under short-and long-wave ultraviolet light.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/scolecite.pdf
- Formula
- Ca(Si3Al2)O10·3H2O
- Crystal System
- Monoclinic
- Crystal Habit
- Massive - Fibrous, Radial
- Cleavage
- Perfect, None, None
- Luster
- Vitreous - Silky
- Color
- brownish, colorless, white
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Monoclinic - Domatic
- Fracture
- Brittle - Uneven
- Hardness
- 5-5.5
- WebMineral
- View Scolecite
- Mindat
- View Scolecite
Scolecite from New Era, Clackamas Co., Oregon, United States
Snow white sprays to 5mm in pocket lined with Thomsonite.
Scolecite from Cape d'Or, Nova Scotia, Canada
An imperssive huge crystal of Scolecite.
