Analcite
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| Analcite | |
|---|---|
| Picture needed | |
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Chemical formula | NaAlSi2O6·H2O |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless to white |
| Crystal habit | Typically in crystals, usually trpezohedrons, also massive to granular. |
| Crystal system | Isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m |
| Cleavage | Absent |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 5 - 5.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Refractive index | nα=1.479 - 1.493 nγ=1.480 - 1.494 |
| Pleochroism | . |
| Streak | white |
| Specific gravity | 2.27 |
| Fusibility | 3.5 |
| Solubility | . |
| Other Characteristics | . |
Analcite or analcime (from the Greek analkimos - "weak") is a white, grey, or colourless tectosilicate mineral. Analcite consists of hydrated sodium aluminium silicate in cubic crystalline form. Its chemical formula is NaAlSi2O6·H2O. Minor potassium and calcium substitute for sodium. A silver bearing synthetic variety also exists (Ag-analcite).
Analcite is usually classified as a zeolite mineral, but structurally and chemically it is more similar to the feldspathoids. Analcite occurs as a primary mineral in analcme basalt and other alkaline igneous rocks. Also occurs as cavity and vesicle fillings associated with prehnite, calcite, and zeolites.
Locations include the Cyclopean Islands and near Trentino, Italy; Victoria, Australia; Kerguelen Island in the Indian Ocean; in the Lake Superior copper district of Michigan, Bergen Hill, New Jersey, Golden, Colorado in the United States; and at Cape Blomidon, Nova Scotia and Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec; and in Iceland.
See also
References and external links
- Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., ISBN 0471805807
- Mineral Galleries (http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/analcime/analcime.htm)
- Mindat.org (http://www.mindat.org/min-210.html)
- Webmineral.com (http://webmineral.com/data/Analcime.shtml)