Mineralpedia Details for Thomsonite-Ca
Thomsonite-Ca
Named for the Scottish chemist and mineralogist Dr. Thomas Thomson, who first described and analyzed the mineral. Also called Thomsonite-Ca, Thomsonite has a strontium-rich analogue called Thomsonite-Sr. Thomsonite is a common zeolite found in many localities within fractures in igneous rocks, typically basalts as well as in contact metamorphosed rocks, alkalic igneous rocks, subvolcanic rocks, and occasionally as a cement on sandstones. Thomsonite is pyroelectric, meaning it can generate a charge temporarily when heated.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/thomsonite.pdf
- Formula
- NaCa2(Al5Si5)O20ยท6H2O
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Radial, Fibrous, Spherical
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Good, None
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- colorless, greenish, yellow, white, pink
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 5-5.5
- WebMineral
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- Mindat
- View Thomsonite-Ca
Thomsonite-Ca from George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee, Bergen Co., New Jersey, United States
Tight radial white sprays to 1.5cm with concentric black bands.
Click thumbnail images for larger view.
