Scolecite
Mineral CaAl2Si3O10·3H2O
About it
Long, clear to white needles and sprays, often larger and sturdier than natrolite; superb groups from the Deccan Traps of India. It curls like a worm when heated, hence the name.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Silicate (tectosilicate), zeolite group
- Formula
- CaAl2Si3O10·3H2O
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5–5.5
- Specific gravity
- 2.25–2.29
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), silky
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- colourless, white
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect prismatic
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.