Description
PECTOLITE SPECIMEN
This is the polished greenish-brown pectolite specimen with black aegirine. Dimensions: 3.0 x 2.3 x 0.4″ (7.5 x 5.8 x 1.1cm). Weight – 3.2oz (92 grams). Origin: Russia, Yakutia.
Some information about pectolite:
Pectolite is a white to gray mineral, sodium calcium hydroxide inosilicate. It crystallizes in the triclinic system typically occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 to 5 and a specific gravity of 2.7 to 2.9. The gemstone variety, larimar, is a pale to sky blue.
It was first described in 1828 at Mt. Baldo, Trento Province, Italy and named from the Greek pektos – “compacted” and lithos – “stone”.
It occurs as a primary mineral in nepheline syenites, within hydrothermal cavities in basalts and diabase and in serpentinites in association with zeolites, datolite, prehnite, calcite and serpentine.
