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stilbite-Ca
stilbite-Na
Stilbite
General
Formula Stilbite-Ca:
(repeating unit) NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72·28(H2O)
Stilbite-Na:
Na9(Si27Al9)O72·28(H2O)
Identification
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 31⁄2 to 4
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to
translucent
Nx = 1.484 to 1.500, Ny
= 1.492 to 1.507, Nz =
1.494 to 1.513[3][4]
[8]
Crystal class
Stilbite is usually monoclinic 2/m, meaning
that it has one twofold axis of rotational
symmetry perpendicular to a mirror plane.
The twofold axis is the crystal axis b, and
the a and c crystal axes lie in the mirror
plane. For a monoclinic crystal a and c are
inclined to each other at an angle β which
is not a right angle. For stilbite β is nearly
130°. Stilbite crystals, however, appear to
be almost orthorhombic, and a larger unit
cell can be chosen, containing two formula
units (Z = 2) such that it looks like an
orthorhombic cell, with all three crystal
axes very nearly mutually perpendicular.
The mineral is said to be pseudo-
orthorhombic.
Non-endmember forms of stilbite may be
triclinic or even truly orthorhombic, indeed
the framework can have symmetry ranging
from orthorhombic to triclinic in a single
crystal.[1]
Habit
Crystals are typically thin tabular, flattened
parallel to the dominant cleavage and
elongated along the an axis. Aggregates
may be sheaf-like or in bow-ties, also
fibrous and globular.[1] Twinning, cruciform
and penetration, is extremely common on
{001}.[6]
Physical and optical
properties
The color is usually colorless or white, also
yellow, brown, pink, salmon, orange, red,
green, blue or black. The luster is generally
vitreous, and on the perfect cleavage
parallel to the plane of symmetry it is
markedly pearly. The streak is white and
crystals are transparent to translucent.
The hardness is 31⁄2 to 4 and the specific
gravity 2.12 to 2.22. Cleavage is perfect on
{010}, poor on {001}.[1] The mineral is
brittle, with a conchoidal or uneven
fracture. It is not radioactive.
Environment
Stilbite is a low-temperature secondary
hydrothermal mineral. It occurs in the
amygdaloidal cavities of basaltic volcanic
rocks, in andesites, gneiss and
hydrothermal veins. It also forms in hot
springs deposits, and as a cementing
agent in some sandstones and
conglomerates.[4] Stilbite has not been
found in sedimentary tuff deposits or
deep-sea deposits.[1] Associated minerals
are other zeolites, prehnite, calcite and
quartz.[4]
Localities
Stilbite is abundant in the volcanic rocks of
Iceland, Faroe Islands, Isle of Skye, Bay of
Fundy, Nova Scotia (where it is the
provincial mineral), northern New Jersey
and North Carolina. Salmon-pink crystals
occur with pale green apophyllite in the
Deccan Traps near Mumbai (Bombay) and
Pune, India; white sheaf-like groups
encrust the calcite (Iceland-spar) of
Berufjord near Djupivogr in Iceland; brown
sheafs are found near Paterson, New
Jersey in the United States; and crystals of
a brick-red color are found at Old
Kilpatrick, Scotland.[10]
External links
Structure type STI
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