Roger Weller, geology instructor
[email protected]
copyright 2007-R.Weller
Mineral
Information on:
scapolite
Chemical Group: silicate
Chemical Formula: varies from
(Na,Ca)4Al3(Al,Si)3Si6O24(Cl,CO3,SO4)
to
(Ca,Na)4Al3(Al,Si)3Si6O24(Cl,CO3,SO4)
Color: white, gray, pale green, light blue, light red, yellow
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 5 to 6
Specific Gravity: 2.65 to 2.74
Cleavage: imperfect cleavage
Crystal Forms: Tetragonal
system
Crystals are commonly prismatic.
Mineral Associations: Scapolite forms in contact metamorphic rocks;
it is associted with diopside, amphibole, garnet,
apatite, sphene, zircon
Identifying Characteristics: square cross section of crystals; 4
directions of cleavage at 450
Uses: when transparent as a gemstone
Occurrences: Canada; in the USA in Massachusetts and New York
Toxicity: when-swallowed-
when inhaled-
Additional Information: Scapolite is also known as wernerite.
Sometimes scapolite fluoresces orange or yellow under ultraviolet light.