A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Natrolite |
|---|---|
| Description | Natrolite is a hydrated sodium aluminum silicate. Natrolite is a common zeolite mineral. Natrolite is a fine specimen in itself but it often is an accessory to other minerals. Natrolite's structure allows large ions and molecules to reside and actually move around inside the overall framework. The structure contains open channels that allow water and large ions to travel into and out of the crystal structure. The size of these channels controls the size of the molecules or ions, and therefore zeolites like natrolite can act as a chemical sieve. Natrolites chemical formula is Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O. Its name comes from the Greek natron meaning “soda”, in allusion to sodium content and lithos meaning “stone”. |
| Location | USA ▹ New Jersey. Near Patterson. |
| Photographer | Shannon Heinle. 2001-02-15. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #1870. |
| Key words | natrolite, silicate, zeolite |
| Tech details | 535 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 84 |
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