OKENITE

 

Okenite is a hydrous calcium silicate mineral (CaSi2O5·2H2O; a.k.a. Ca10Si18O46·18H2O).  Though scarce, it is easy to identify.  First of all, it's only known in cavities in some basalt lava flows.  It forms whitish-colored tufts or "cottonballs" of radiating acicular (needle-shaped) to fibrous crystals.  Individual crystals (needles) are flexible and yet quite fragile.  It has a nonmetallic luster, typically white color, white streak, and is moderately hard (H = 4.5 to 5).

 

Okenite (white masses of radiating, slender crystals) partially filling cavity in basalt (Deccan Traps Flood Basalt, uppermost Cretaceous) from India.

(Dwyer Mercer County District Library # 105-40, Celina, Ohio, USA)

 


 

Photo gallery of okenite

 


 

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