Description
PECTOLITE SPECIMEN
This is the polished greenish-brown pectolite specimen. Dimensions: 2.2 x 2.1 x 0.6″ (5.6 x 5.4 x 1.5cm). Weight – 2.6oz (74 grams). Origin: Russia, Yakutia.
Some information about pectolite:
Pectolite is a white to gray mineral, NaCa2Si3O8(OH), 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.
