MONTESOMMAITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Tectosilicates
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : (K,Na)9Al9Si23O64 10H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Montesommaite is an extremely rare zeolite, known only in the scoria of Mount Somma, the precursor volcano of Vesuvius (Italy), where it accompanies dolomite, calcite, chabazite and natrolite. It takes its name from this. Montesommaite occurs in colorless bipyramid crystals of 2 mm maximum, so rare that all its physical characteristics could not be measured.

Main photo : Twinned Montebrasite from Ponte do Piaui claim, Piaui valley, Taquaral, Itinga, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Montesommaite in the World

Montesommaite is only known at Mount Somma near Naples (Italy) at the San Vito, Pollena and Trapolino quarries.

Right photo : Montesommaite of Mount Somma, Naples, Italy © Stephan Wolfsried


Montesommaite in France

Montesommaite is not known in the French underground.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : Undetermined
Density : 2.34
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.498 to 1.507
Birefringence : 0.009
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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