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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). |
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Chemical Formula |
Na4(Al3Si9O24)Cl
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Composition |
Sodium aluminum chloro-silicate
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| Variable Formula |
(Na,Ca)4(Al,Si)3Si6O24)(Cl,CO3,SO4)
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Color |
White, gray, colorless, cream, yellow, bluish-gray, and purple. Less commonly blue, brown, green, red, and pink. |
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Streak |
White |
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Hardness |
5.5 - 6 |
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Crystal System |
Tetragonal |
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Crystal Forms
and 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. |
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Transparency |
Transparent to opaque |
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Specific Gravity |
2.5 - 2.6 |
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Luster |
Vitreous to dull |
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Cleavage |
2,2 |
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Fracture |
Conchoidal, uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
Often fluorescent, sometimes brightly. Colors include white, yellow,
and pink. Fluorescence may be present both in shortwave and
longwave. |
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In Group |
Silicates; Tectosilicates |
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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. |
| Rock Type |
Igneous, Metamorphic |
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Popularity (1-4)
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3 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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2 |
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Demand (1-3) |
2 |
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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.
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Diopside, Calcite, Biotite, Phlogopite, Titanite, Hornblende, Actinolite, Tremolite, Almandine, Microcline, Albite, Muscovite
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Meionite - Difficult to distinguish without chemical analysis.
Feldspars - Often form in different crystal habits, lacks fluorescence.
Nepheline - Different cleavage, lacks fluorescence.
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