Scapolite

Name:

Scapolite

Chem:

Na4(AlSi3 O8)3 Cl.nCa4(Al2Si2 O8)3(SO4,CO3)
complex sodium calcium aluminum silicate

Crystal:

Tetragonal (usually short prisms with square cross section)

Color:

clear, yellow, green, gray, and rarely violet, blue, or pink

Refrac. Index:

1.54 - 1.58

Birefraction:

0.020

Hardness:

5 - 6.5

Spec. Grav.:

2.57 - 2.74

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

perfect (2 directions)

Environment:

a metamorphic product, hydrothermal metamorphic rocks.

Association:

almandine, andalusite, andradite, actinolite, microcline, muscovite

Locals:

| Canada | N.Y., N.J., USA | Brazil | Switzerland | Mexico |

Misc:

The name comes from the Greek "skapos", meaning "shaft" alluding to its common long prismatic form. Often fluorescent orange-yellow. Soluble in HCl leaving silica. Also known as wernerite named for a German explorer.

Gem info:

The transparent varieties are faceted and the less transparent stones may be cabbed yielding some cats-eye stones. The value increases with the darker colors, but it is not an expensive stone.

2 stones


Name:	Scapolite
Chem:	Na4(AlSi3 O8)3 Cl.nCa4(Al2Si2 O8)3(SO4,CO3) complex sodium calcium aluminum silicate
Crystal:	Tetragonal (usually short prisms with square cross section)
Color:	clear, yellow, green, gray, and rarely violet, blue, or pink
Refrac. Index:	1.54 - 1.58	Birefraction:	0.020
Hardness:	5 - 6.5	Spec. Grav.:	2.57 - 2.74
Fracture:	conchoidal	Cleavage:	perfect (2 directions)
Environment:	a metamorphic product, hydrothermal metamorphic rocks.
Association:	almandine, andalusite, andradite, actinolite, microcline, muscovite
Locals:	\| Canada \| N.Y., N.J., USA \| Brazil \| Switzerland \| Mexico \|
Misc:	The name comes from the Greek "skapos", meaning "shaft" alluding to its common long prismatic form. Often fluorescent orange-yellow. Soluble in HCl leaving silica. Also known as wernerite named for a German explorer.
Gem info:	The transparent varieties are faceted and the less transparent stones may be cabbed yielding some cats-eye stones. The value increases with the darker colors, but it is not an expensive stone.
	2 stones