#phillipsite

Paulingite-K, Clinoptilolite-Ca, Phillipsite-K

(K2,Ca,Na2,Ba)5[Al10Si35O90]·45H2O, (K2,Ca,Na2,Ba)5[Al10Si35O90]·45H2O,  (K,Na,Ca0.5,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O

Locality:

Rock Island Dam, Douglas Co., Washington, USA

Colorless dodecahedron of Paulingite-K. Found in basalt boulders dredged from the Columbia River during construction of the Rock Island Dam. 

I’d like to share with you a little known rock - Gobbinsite.

I’m originally from Ireland and Gobbinsite is a rare zeolite mineral that occurs near my home town. Its only known occurrence is  my home town, and in Quebec, Canada. 

Gobbinsite was once basalt - basically molten lava solidified under intense heat and pressure. This is the dark core of the stone you can see above. But over hundreds and thousands of years this basalt has been exposed to the sea and in the holes and crevices minerals have solidified forming the varied, spotted stone you see now. Phillipsite is the interstitial stone. 

Due to its rarity the internet is not particularly helpful when it comes to its correspondences. If any one knows any more please comment!! But from my work with it it corresponds with strength and flexibility. Its great for grounding work and for encouraging understanding of nature. 

Phillipsite-K, Ettringite

(K,Na,Ca0.5,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O,  Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O 

Locality:

Vallerano Quarries, Valleranello, Rome, Rome Province, Latium, Italy  

Largest Crystal Size: 1 mm

Colorless and transparent prismatic crystals of Phillipsite-K grown in the midst of sprays of small colorless, hexagonal prismatic crystals of ettringite. The matrix is a metamorphosed nodule.

Calcite, Thomsonite-Ca, Phillipsite

CaCO3

NaCa2(Al5Si5)O20·6H2O

(Ca,Na2,K2)3Al6Si10O32·12H2O

Locality:

Nickel Quarry, Oberwiddersheim, Hungen, Vogelsberg, Hesse, Germany

Calcite aggregates in addition to radial thomsonite spheres and phillipsite crystal background.

Field of View: 5 mm

From Mindat.Org Photo Of The Day; January 15, 2018:

Phillipsite-K: (K,Na,Ca0.5,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O

Locality: Rock Island Dam, Douglas Co., Washington, USA

Phillipsite