Thomsonite
| Colour | White, Green, Pink |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 5– |
| Lustre | vitreous, pearly |
| Streak | white |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Transparency | transparent to translucent |
| Cleavage | perfect on {010}; good on {100} |
| Chemical formula | NaCa 2 Al 5 Si 5 O 20 ·6H 2 O |
| Specific gravity | 2.23–2.29 |
What is Thomsonite?
Thomsonite is the name of a series of tectosilicate minerals of the zeolite group. Prior to 1997, thomsonite was recognized as a mineral species, but a reclassification in 1997 by the International Mineralogical Association changed it to a series name, with the mineral species being named thomsonite-Ca and thomsonite-Sr. Thomsonite-Ca, by far the more common of the two, is a hydrous sodium, calcium and aluminium silicate, NaCa2Al5Si5O20·6H2O. Strontium can substitute for the calcium and the appropriate species name depends on the dominant element. The species are visually indistinguishable and
How to identify Thomsonite
- Lustre: vitreous, pearly.
- Hardness: Mohs 5– — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: white.
- Habit: Orthorhombic crystal system.
Thomsonite in different forms
Stones often confused with Thomsonite
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Thomsonite?
Thomsonite is Mohs 5– on the hardness scale.
What colour is Thomsonite?
Thomsonite is typically white, green, pink (colorless, white, beige, and pink).