MESOLITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Tectosilicates
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : Na2Ca2Al6Si9O30 8H2O
    Rarity : Common

Mesolite is a mineral from the zeolite group, more especially "elongated zeolites". It has an intermediate composition between that of scolecite and that of natrolite, to which it is structurally related. Mesolite is mainly found in cavities of volcanic rocks, most often basalts, as well as in certain hydrothermal veins. Its name comes from the Greek mesos (middle) and lithos (stone), in allusion to its intermediate composition between natrolite and scolecite. Mesolite is transparent to translucent, colorless or white, sometimes grayish, it forms fibrous to acicular crystals, frequently united in delicate tufts or divergent fibrous aggregates.


Main photo : Mesolite de Pune, Maharashtra, India © Mike Royal

Mesolite from Lonavala Quarry, Pune, Maharashtra, India © Milind M. Kolhatkar
Mesolite from Pashan, Pune, Maharashtra, India © Rock Currier
Mesolite from Vikarnes Quarry, Faroe Islands © Volker Betz
Mesolite & thomsonite from Papenoo, Tahiti © François Le Gaillard

Mesolite in the World

Exceptional specimens of mesolite come to us from Poonah and Bombay, in the Dekkan (India), where the crystals measure up to 20 cm and build spectacular radiated aggregates exceeding 20 cm in diameter in the cavities of the basalts. Still in this context of geodic basalt, superb 10 cm crystals have been discovered in the Faroe Islands, in the Bay of Fundy (Canada), and at Skookumchuck Dam (Washington).

Mesolite in France

Very presentable crystals have been found in the cavities of Auvergne basalts, notably those of Puy de Marman (Puy-de-Dôme). It is also reported in Tahiti and Reunion islands.

Twinning

Twins are known on {010} and on {100}.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 5
Density : 2.26
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : White

TP : Opaque to transparent
RI : 1.505
Birefringence : 0.001
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Acids

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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