Scolecite: Gemstones Information

Scolecite is Ca[Al2Si3O10]3H2O and is a member of the zeolite group,forming pyroelectric and piezoelectric colourless to white slender pseudotetragonal crystals of the monoclinic system with two directions of perfect cleavage, hardness 5–5.5, SG 2.25. The RI for the alpha, beta and gamma rays is 1.507–1.513, 1.516–1.520, 1.517–1.521, biaxial negative,birefringence 0.007. There may be a yellow to brown fluorescence under LW and SWUV. Scolecite occurs with other zeolites primarily as a cavity mineral in basalts. Transparent crystals of high quality are found from the Teigarhorn, Berufjord, Iceland and exceptional specimens from the classic localities in the Poona, Nasik and Mumbai areas of India.