Pectolite
Mineral NaCa2Si3O8(OH)
About it
Radiating sprays of sharp white needles in basalt cavities that can splinter into skin, so handle carefully; sky-blue larimar from the Dominican Republic is pectolite.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Silicate (inosilicate), wollastonite group
- Formula
- NaCa2Si3O8(OH)
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4.5–5
- Specific gravity
- 2.74–2.88
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), silky
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Colours
- white, grey, pale blue, pink
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in two directions
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.