Apophylite and Zeolites - Bearing and meaning

Apophyllite strengthens our sincerity and openness to life; we can break free from attachments and outdated thought patterns and openly show who we are. The saving ray of hope comes within reach, full of composure we can we can overcome negativity and limitations. With the help of other members of the zeolite family, we can additionally emphasize a personal aspect.

General information about zeolites

Zeolite is the collective name for a species-rich group of hydrous framework silicates that contain up to 40% by dry weight of water, which is released when heated. This water can be reabsorbed in moist air without affecting the the original structure of the mineral is destroyed. Zeolites are usually colorless, but they can also be pink, yellowish, greenish, bluish, gray or brown in color due to foreign admixtures. Depending on the growth form, a distinction is made between leaf, fibrous and cube zeolites.

As jewelry and therapy stones are of the many different zeolites mostly Skolezit and Stilbite in use. Partially in this connection also Prehnit is specified, since this precious stone with its discovery first for a member of the zeolite family. The assignment of apophyllite to the zeolite group is also ambiguous - depending on classification and systematics, apophyllite is part of the zeolite group or an independent mineral group.

The name "zeolite" is derived from the Greek "zeo" ("I boil") due to the behavior of zeolites when heated.

Zeolites have the ability to bind cations from water, thereby reducing water hardness, but also to bind substances and odors.

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Mineralogical profile Apophyllite

Chemical formula, mineral class: KCa₄[(OH,F)/(Si₄O₁₀)₂] x 8 H₂O; phyllosilicate

Formation: Primarily by hydrothermal formation from thin fluorine-containing silica solutions

Color: colorless or greenish, rarely also faintly reddish, yellowish or bluish

Transparency, luster: transparent to translucent; glassy or pearlescent

Crystal system: tetragonal

Mohs hardness: 4.5 - 5

Cleavability, fracture: depending on variety, excellent, distinct or barely perceptible; conchoidal, uneven

Appearance: forms rectangular, often double-terminated crystals with tetrahedral tips (pyramidal habit) or square end faces (cubic habit), often fused into clusters or leafy aggregates.

Localities: Australia (rare), Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, USA. Main country of supply for both clear crystals and the rare green clusters is India (Poona).

Origing of the name: Apophyllite means "the flaking one" (Greek apo = flaking and phyllon = leaf) and refers to the mineral's property of flaking into individual leaflets before a hot flame. The name was given to the mineral by René-Just Hauy in the 18th century. Synonyms are fish-eye stone, ichthyophthalm. Obsolete: Albine, brünnichite, leucocyclite, oxhaverite, tesselite, xylochlor

Historical facts about Apophyllite

Apophyllite was mentioned for the first time in 1784 by Carl Rinman as "zeolite of Hellesta" in Sweden, where it was also given the trivial names "Gässten" and "Brausestein". José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva designated the Apophyllite as an independent mineral under the name "Ichthyophtalme", whose occurrence was the island Utö in the southern Stockholm archipelago. The Germanized name "Fischaugenstein" comes from Abraham Gottlob Werner. Since the construction of the railroad in India between Mumbai and Pune in 1851, but at the latest since the beginning of the construction boom in the early 1970s, many excellent apophyllite specimens have been recovered from the triangle of the cities of Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. been recovered.

Applications of Apophyllite in gemstone healing

Apophyllite promotes serenity, calmness and honesty. It helps to drop facades and show yourself as you are. Strong stresses are better endured, it has a liberating effect on inner pressure and fears. It promotes the expression of suppressed feelings and helps to overcome bad conscience, worries and insecurity. White Apophyllite is assigned to the brow chakra, blue to the throat chakra and green to the heart chakra. American author Melody recommends Apophyllite for the zodiac signs. Gemini and Libra, the stone healing expert Walter von Holst assigns him to the Pisces.

Mineralogical profile Stilbite

Chemical formula: NaCa₄(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂-28H₂O respectively. Na₉(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂-28H₂O (Depending on whether calcium (Ca) or sodium (Na) predominates.)

Formation: Stilbite is formed by hydrothermal processes in cavities of basalt, ore veins, and sedimentary rocks. The mineral is typically found together with Apophyllite, Calcite, Cavansite and various other zeolites (so-called, paragenesis, i.e. association).

Color: colorless; by foreign admixtures cream-colored, yellowish, pinkish to reddish, brown

Transparency, luster: transparent to translucent, Glass, silk to Mother of Pearl luster

Crystal system: Monoclinic

Mohs hardness: 3.5 - 4

Cleavability, fracture: perfect; uneven, foliated fracture

Appearance: Mostly prismatic or tabular crystals; rarely also complex interpenetrating twins. Stilbite also occurs as granular to massive and sheaf- or bundle-shaped aggregates.

Localities: Canada, USA (mainly east coast), Russia, and numerous European localities from Iceland to the Pyrenees. In the trade are mainly Stilbite from India.

Origin of name and synonyms: The first detailed description of Stilbite was made in 1796 by the French mineralogist René-Just Haüy, who named the newly discovered mineral after the Greek word "stílbe" for "shine". In 1818, the German mineralogist August Breithaupt suggested the name "desmin", derived from the ancient Greek term "desme" for "bundle". Other names for the mineral stilbite are epidesmin, ray zeolite and foliated zeolite.

Use: Unlike other zeolites, there is no industrial use for stilbite. However, the mineral is very popular as a collectible. Findings of modern stone medicine on the effect and use of Stilbite are currently few; the themes of the gemstone are strengthening creativity and developing and pursuing one's own ideas and imagination.

Mineralogical profile of Scolecite

Chemical formula: Ca[Al₂Si3O₁₀]-3H₂O

Formation: As a decomposition product of basalt, scolecite, together with Apophyllite and other zeolites, is formed from hydrothermal solutions in rock cavities. As accompanying minerals calcite, prehnite and stilbite are often found.

Color: colorless, white

Transparency, luster: transparent to translucent; vitreous luster on crystal faces, otherwise silky luster

Crystal system: monoclinic

Mohs hardness: 5 - 5.5

Cleavability, fracture: perfect; uneven, brittle fracture

Appearance: mostly long, prismatic to acicular crystals in radially radiating aggregates. Rarely found as contact or interpenetration twins, fibrous, massive or spherical aggregates.

Localities: During the construction of a tunnel in Rio Grande du Sol in Brazil many scolecites were also found in the home of the amethyst (occurrence "Das Antas"). Other localities are spread all over the world; even in Antarctica scolecite is found. In Europe scolezite is found mainly in the area of the Alps. In the trade scolezite often comes from the area between the places Mumbai (Bombay), Nashik and Poona in the west of India (state of Maharashtra).

Origin of the name and synonyms: The name scolezite is derived from the Greek term "skolex" (worm), because scolezite curves when heated before the soldering tube. A name for the scolecite rarely found today is lime mesotype; other names are ellagite and episcolecite.

Use: In the international literature on stone healing, the themes of team spirit and cohesion are assigned to the scolecite. Relationships are strengthened - whether these exist in the family, at work or in other groupings.

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Mineralogical profile Natrolite

Chemical formula: Na₂[Al₂Si₃O₁₀]-2H₂O

Formation: Natrolite is formed mainly by hydrothermal transformations of feldspathic rocks.

Color: colorless to transparent; by foreign admixtures gray, bluish, yellowish or pink

Transparency, luster: transparent to translucent, glassy to silky luster

Crystal system: orthorhombic

Mohs hardness: 5 - 5.5

Cleavability, fracture: perfect resp. distinct; conchoidal fracture

Appearance: long prismatic or acicular crystals, which are mostly connected to radial-rayed aggregates

Localities: A well-known occurrence of Natrolite, today under strict protection, is found at Hohentwiel in the south of Baden-Württemberg. There the mineralogist Martin Heinrich Klaproth found the first Natrolite in 1803 and made a scientific description of the gemstone.

In Java (Indonesia) on the island of Nusa Kambangan millions of years ago lava fissures were filled with ferruginous Natrolite. This is how the extremely rare pink, compact Natrolite, from which beautiful cabochons can be cut for fine jewelry, was created there.

Further sites of discovery can be found mainly in North America, northern and central Europe; worldwide, about 150 sites are known.

Origin of the name and synonyms: The name Natrolite is composed of the term "natron" and the Greek word "lithos" (stone). Synonyms for natrolite are apoanalcite, brevicite, cokalite, crocalite, epinatrolite, höganite, lehuntite, and sodium mesotype.

Use: Natrolite is occasionally used for water softening, but is mainly traded as a collector's specimen. The rare compact Natrolites, if these show a beautiful color and pattern, are made into jewelry.