- Levyne
Levyne or levynite is a
zeolite mineral, i.e. a hydrated silicate mineral. There are two forms of levyne:
*"Levyne-Na", the sodium dominated form (Na2,Ca,K2)Al2Si4O12·6(H2O); and
*"Levyne-Ca" the calcium dominated form (Ca,Na2,K2)Al2Si4O12·6(H2O)Levyne crystallizes in the
Trigonal - Hexagonal Scalenohedral class. It typically occurs as radiating clusters or fibrous masses that are transparent to translucent in colors ranging from white through reddish and yellowish white to gray. It has aspecific gravity of 2.09 - 2.16 and aMohs hardness of 4.0 to 4.5. It has a vitreous luster and perfect cleavage on [1011] . Typical occurrence is as an alteration and vesicle filling mineral inbasalt s.It was named for French
mineralogist Armand Levy (1794-1841).The calcium variety was first described in 1821 for an occurrence in Dalsnipa, Sandoy,Faroe Islands . The sodium variety was described in 1997 for an occurrence in Chojabaru,Nagasaki Prefecture ,Japan References
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Levyne-Ca.shtml Webmineral - Levyne-Ca]
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Levyne-Na.shtml Webmineral - Levyne-Na]
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