Marialite: The scapolite mineral marialite information and pictures

About

Marialite is the sodium-rich end member of the Scapolite series. It is very similar and often indistinguishable from Meionite, the other end member of the series. Intermediary forms of Marialite and Meionite are frequent, and these are classified simply as Scapolite. Marialite is named after Maria Rosa von Rath, the wife of German mineralogist Gerhard von Rath (1830-1888).

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

Crystals are often short and stout with a slightly angled or pyramidal termination, or long and prismatic. Crystals can be very large and fat, and are often intergrown in groups of such crystals or are columnar. Also grainy, massive, and crudely as formed crystal masses. Prismatic crystals are often striated.

Other ID Marks

Often fluorescent, sometimes brightly. Colors include white, yellow, and pink. Fluorescence may be present both in shortwave and longwave.

Striking Features

Crystal habit, environment, and fluorescence

Environment

In volcanic rock such as basalt, and in metamorphic rocks such metamorphosed limestones, skarns, gneisses, and hornfels. Also in granite pegmatites.

Noteworthy Localities

The two Scapolite members often occur together and are not usually individually distinguished. See Scapolite for a comprehensive list of localities general to the Scapolite series.

Common Mineral Associations

Diopside, Calcite, Biotite, Phlogopite, Titanite, Hornblende, Actinolite, Tremolite, Almandine, Microcline, Albite, Muscovite

Distinguishing Similar Minerals

Meionite - Difficult to distinguish without chemical analysis.
Feldspars - Often form in different crystal habits, lacks fluorescence.
Nepheline - Different cleavage, lacks fluorescence.

Marialite

About

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

Other ID Marks

Striking Features

Environment

Noteworthy Localities

Common Mineral Associations

Distinguishing Similar Minerals

Photos

Crystal forms

Marialite

Abouti

Crystal Forms & Aggregatesi

Other ID Marksi

Striking Featuresi

Environmenti

Noteworthy Localitiesi

Common Mineral Associationsi

Distinguishing Similar Mineralsi

Photos

Crystal forms

About

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

Other ID Marks

Striking Features

Environment

Noteworthy Localities

Common Mineral Associations

Distinguishing Similar Minerals