Stilbite
Stilbite group
Common · NaCa₄(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂·28H₂O
A zeolite group mineral forming sheaf-like aggregates of tabular crystals in the vesicles of volcanic basalt. Formed by low-temperature hydrothermal alteration. Among the most common and widely distributed zeolite minerals.
Identity
- Formula
- NaCa₄(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂·28H₂O
- Chemical class
- Silicate
- Members
- Stilbite-Ca, Stilbite-Na
- Mineral group
- Analcime, Heulandite, Natrolite
- Also known as
- Desmine (archaic)
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Habits
- Tabular, Sheaf-like aggregates
- Fracture
- Uneven
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.2 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous, Pearly
- Colors
- colorless, white, pink, yellow, orange
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent, Translucent
Geology
- Origins
- Hydrothermal
- Host rocks
- Volcanic rock
- Associated minerals
- Heulandite, Prehnite, Calcite, Quartz
- Geography
- India, Iceland, USA, Canada, Brazil
Classification
- Rarity
- Common
- Gem quality
- No
Sources
- Stilbite. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Stilbite. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
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