Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Sorosilicates
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : (Ca,Na)₂(Al,Mg)(Si,Al)₂O7
    Rarity : Uncommon

Melilite is an intermediate term between gehlenite and akermanite, now individualized as a mineral in its own right. This calcium silicate is found in certain ultrabasic rocks and undersaturated alkaline rocks, in potassic lavas with leucite and olivine, sometimes leading to melilitites, in skarns in contact with limestones and dolomites. Like gehlenite and akermanite, melilite is produced in abundance in foundry and incinerator furnaces and therefore becomes an essential constituent of metallurgical slag and household waste incineration slag. Its name comes from the Greek meli (honey) in allusion to its color. Melilite occurs in short prismatic crystals or lamellae, more commonly in xenomorphic grains or masses ; it is colorless to grayish, grayish green or brownish yellow to brown. Artificial crystals from foundries and incinerators have acicular to bacillary habits, very different from those of natural crystals.

Main photo : Melilite from Löhley, Eifel, Germany © Tony Peterson

No twin known for this mineral species.

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.