Natrolite in Basalt

Natrolite is a zeolite mineral comprised of sodium and aluminium. Usually, the crystal habit is fibrous and needle like, accicular, radiating outwards and forms as compact clusters. However, these particular mineral samples exhibit the mineral forming as amygdaloids in basalt, the most common occurrence of them. The type locality is in Hohentwiel, Hegau, Germany, it was named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1803, with naming being derived from Greek words ‘natron’, meaning soda, in reference to the sodium content and ‘lithos’, meaning stone. Collected many years ago from Glenfarg, Perthshire in Scotland, the crystals are a pale pink colouration, a rarity for natrolite, as it tends to be white or off white and rarely show much crystal habit. Never the less, they are an odd and hard to come by sample and will be an excellent addition to any serious collection. These particular pieces are available in two sizes only and will come supplied in a card tray with an information label.