Mesolite (Na₂Ca₂Al₆Si₉O₃₀·8H₂O) is the intermediate Na-Ca zeolite between natrolite (Na) and scolecite (Ca). It forms hair-like acicular crystals — sometimes meters-long and finer than human hair — in radiating tufts and snow-white aggregates. Pune (India) and Iceland supply iconic snow-white “cotton ball” mesolite specimens.
Key Facts
- Mohs hardness 5.
- Orthorhombic; extremely fine acicular hair-like needles.
- White to colorless silky luster on fibrous aggregates.
- Intermediate composition in natrolite-mesolite-scolecite series.
- Forms snow-white “cotton ball” aggregates in basalt vesicles.
Notable Localities
Pune basalts (Maharashtra, India) and Iceland yield iconic snow-white tufts. Antrim (Northern Ireland) and Faroe Islands supply additional specimens.
Found at these Localities
- Maharashtra Deccan Traprock Zeolites (马哈拉施特拉德干玄武岩沸石产地)
