- Laumontite
Laumontite is a
mineral , one of thezeolite group. Its molecular formula is Calcium(AluminiumSilicon|2Oxygen|6)2·4H2O, a hydrated calcium-aluminium silicate.Potassium orsodium may substitute for the calcium but only in very small amounts.It is monoclinic, space group C2/m. It forms prismatic crystals with a diamond-shaped cross-section and an angled termination. When pure, the color is colorless or white. Impurities may color it orange, brownish, gray, yellowish, pink, or reddish. It has perfect cleavage on [010] and [110] and its fracture is conchoidal. It is very brittle. The Mohs scale hardness is 3.5-4. It has a vitreous luster and a white streak.It is found in hydrothermal deposits left in calcareous rocks, often formed as a result of secondary mineralization. Host rock types include
basalt ,andesite ,metamorphic rocks andgranites .The identification of laumontite goes back to the early days of
mineralogy . It was first named lomonite by R. Jameson (System of Mineralogy) in 1805, and laumonite by R.-J. Haüy in 1809. The current name was given by K.C. von Leonhard (Handbuch der Oryktognosie) in 1821. It is named afterGillet de Laumont who collected samples from lead mines inHuelgoat ,Brittany , making them the type locality.Laumontite easily dehydrates when stored in a low humidity environment. When freshly collected, if it has not already been exposed to the environment, it can be translucent or transparent. Over a period of hours to days the loss of water turns it opaque white. In the past, this variety has been called leonhardite, though this is not a valid mineral species. The dehydrated laumontite is very friable, often falling into a powder at the slightest touch.
It is a common mineral, found worldwide. It can be locally abundant, forming seams and veins. It is frequently associated with other zeolites, including
stilbite andheulandite . Notable occurrences areIndia ;Paterson, New Jersey ; Pine Creek,California ;Iceland ;Scotland ; and theBay of Fundy ,Nova Scotia .Prehnite pseudomorph s after laumontite (epimorphs) have been found inIndia .References
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-2340.html Mindat Laumontite]
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Laumontite.shtml Webmineral Laumontite]
* [http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/IMA/ima98(13).pdf IMA Zeolite Classification]
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