Mineral Factbook

Mesolite

Na2Ca2(Si9Al6)O30·8H2OIMA symbol: Mesapproved

Mesolite is a silicate mineral with the formula Na2Ca2(Si9Al6)O30·8H2O, crystallizing in the orthorhombic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 5, typically colorless, white, gray or yellow in color, with a silky or vitreous luster, a specific gravity of 2.2-2.4. Its streak is white.

Photos

Mesolite specimen photo
Ed Uthman from Houston, TX, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Mesolite specimen photo
Mahmoudalrawi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Mesolite specimen photo
Edelmauswaldgeist · CC0 · Commons
Mesolite specimen photo
Yinan Chen · Public Domain · Commons

Crystallography

Crystal systemorthorhombic crystal systemWikidata (CC0)
Space groupF d d 2
Cell (Å, °)a = 18.4049, b = 56.655, c = 6.5443; α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90
Cell volume6823.94 ų, Z = 8
Axial ratios0.3249:1:0.1155calculated from COD 9005448
Source structureCOD 9005448 (European Journal of Mineralogy, 2000) — 1 of 2 structures

Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)

2θ (degrees, Cu Kα1)I/I₀ (max 100)
d (Å)2.8875.8622.8586.592.9314.355
I/I₀10096.179.564.650.947.5

xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9005448; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.

Physical properties

Density (calculated)2.268 g/cm³calculated from COD 9005448
Hardness (Mohs)
5single sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Specific gravity
2.2-2.4 g/cm3corroboratedDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Color
colorless, gray, white, yellowsingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)
Streak
whitesingle sourceWikidata (CC0)
Luster
silky, vitreoussingle sourceDana, System of Mineralogy, 6th ed. (1892)

Chemistry (calculated)

Molecular weight1164.9 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula
Composition (wt%)Na 3.95%, Ca 6.88%, Si 21.7%, Al 13.9%, O 52.19%, H 1.38%

Classification

Nickel-Strunz (10th)9.GA.05Wikidata (CC0)
Nickel-Strunz (9th)9.GA.05Wikidata (CC0)