How to identify Cavansite on Stilbite
Cavansite (Ca(VO)Si4O10·4H2O) on Stilbite-Ca ((Na,Ca)2-3Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O36·14H2O)
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Open the appTo correctly identify Cavansite on Stilbite (Cavansite (Ca(VO)Si4O10·4H2O) on Stilbite-Ca ((Na,Ca)2-3Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O36·14H2O)), check each of these features in order. Many rocks and minerals look alike, so cross-reference multiple properties before deciding.
Step-by-step identification
- 1
Color
Overall color and any zoning or banding
Cavansite: Intense blue to greenish-blue. Stilbite: White, cream, salmon-pink, or brownish-yellow.
- 2
Luster
How the surface reflects light: metallic, vitreous, dull
Cavansite: Vitreous to pearly. Stilbite: Vitreous to pearly.
- 3
Texture
Grain size and surface feel: coarse, fine, glassy
Cavansite: Typically forms radiating aggregates, often spherical or 'puffball' like. Stilbite: Tabular, sheaf-like, or radiating aggregates.
- 4
Crystal Form
Shape of visible crystals or crystal faces
Cavansite: Orthorhombic, often forming radiating acicular crystals in spherical aggregates up to several centimeters in diameter. Stilbite: Monoclinic, typically forming tabular crystals, often in characteristic 'sheaf' or 'bow-tie' aggregates.
- 5
Cleavage
How it breaks: flat cleavage planes vs irregular fracture
Cavansite: Perfect on {010}. Stilbite: Perfect on {010}.
- 6
Geological Environment
The rock formation and setting where it occurs
Amygdaloidal cavities and fractures within basaltic and other mafic volcanic rocks, often associated with other zeolites, apophyllite, and calcite.
Key Facts
- Hardness
- Cavansite: 3-4 (Mohs); Stilbite: 3.5-4 (Mohs)
- Specific Gravity
- Cavansite: 2.21-2.33; Stilbite: 2.1-2.2
- Crystal System
- Cavansite: Orthorhombic; Stilbite: Monoclinic
- Color
- Cavansite: Intense blue to greenish-blue; Stilbite: White, cream, salmon-pink, brownish-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Fracture
- Cavansite: Uneven; Stilbite: Uneven to subconchoidal
- Cleavage
- Cavansite: Perfect on {010}; Stilbite: Perfect on {010}
- Composition
- Cavansite: Hydrated calcium vanadium oxysilicate; Stilbite: Hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate
Physical characteristics
- Crystal Habit: Cavansite: Radiating aggregates, spherical 'puffballs', acicular crystals. Stilbite: Tabular, sheaf-like, radiating aggregates, often forming 'bow-ties'.
- Cleavage Type: Cavansite: Perfect basal cleavage; Stilbite: Perfect basal cleavage.
- Fracture Type: Cavansite: Uneven; Stilbite: Uneven to subconchoidal.
- Tenacity: Cavansite: Brittle; Stilbite: Brittle.
- Luster Type: Vitreous to pearly.
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