SCOLECITE

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Mineralogists recognized scolecite as a species in 1813 and named it in 1823.  Its name, pronounced SKO-leh-site, comes from the German Skolezit, which stems from the Greek skōlēx, meaning “worm” and alluding to the tendency of its acicular crystals to curl when heated.  Scolecite is collected in India, Russia, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Austria, and the United States (Oregon, New Jersey, Maine).

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Scolecite [hydrous calcium aluminum silicate Ca(Al₂Si₃O₁₀)·3H₂O], is a member of the zeolite-mineral group.  It crystallizes in the monoclinic system as thin, acicular crystals or hair-like fibers and also as radiating, mammilary aggregates of thin crystals.  Scolecite has a vitreous to silky luster and is usually colorless or white, but impurities can impart a range of pale colors.  Its transparent-to-translucent crystals have tetragonal cross sections, lengthwise striations, and slanted terminations.  Scolecite has a Mohs hardness of 5.0-5.5, perfect cleavage in one direction, and a specific gravity of 2.16-2.40.  Scolecite occurs primarily within amygdaloidal cavities of basaltic rocks in association with quartz and other zeolite minerals.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES: Metaphysical practitioners believe that scolecite promotes inner peace, deep relaxation, and meditation; facilitates dream recall and restful sleep; and enhances the dream state.  Massive scolecite is tumbled and polished for use as pendants for metaphysical purposes.  Although zeolite minerals have many uses, scolecite is too rare to be of importance.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Mineral collectors value scolecite both as single and composite specimens, the latter in association with quartz and other zeolite minerals.