NEKOITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Inosilicates
    Crystal system : Triclinic
    Chemistry : Ca3Si6O15 7H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Nekoite is an extremely rare silicate of metamorphic limestones that is also found filling geodes in basalts. Its name comes from okenite, a chemically similar mineral whose first four letters have been reversed. The most beautiful specimens are fibroradiated nodular aggregates of colorless to white acicular crystals, not exceeding 5 mm.

Main photo : Nekoite from Iron Cap, Landsman Camp, Arizona, USA © Christopher O'Neill

Nekoite in the World


The most beautiful samples come from the basalts of Caxias do Sul (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Nekoite is also known from Crestmore (California), Landsman Camp (Arizona), and Koch-Bulach (Uzbekistan).

Right photo : Nekoite from Crest More, California, USA © Gianfranco Ciccolini


Nekoite in France

Nekoite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

Repeated twins parallel to the {010} cleavage are known.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : Undetermined
Density : 2.21 to 2.24
Fracture : Fibrous
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : Undetermined
Birefringence : Undetermined
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None