Okenita
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Okenita is a mineral with formula Ca₅Si₉O₂₃·9H₂O, in the Filosilicatos group. This specimen comes from Malad Quarry, Mumbai Suburban District, Konkan, Maharashtra, India.
Description
Single, minute spherical aggregate of white acicular crystals with cottony appearance and silky lustre, on matrix.
History of this specimen
Esta pieza se la regalé a José Miguel por todo el concimiento sobre el mundo mineral que puso a mi disposición la tarde que nos conocimos en el reastro de Fuengirola.
About Okenita
It resembles a ball of cotton wool, but it is made of thousands of very fragile microscopic needles. It is a secondary mineral occurring in cavities of volcanic rocks, especially in the Deccan basalts of India. Okenite forms at low temperature under specific conditions of moisture and internal chemistry. Its delicate appearance contrasts with the harsh environment in which it forms, and specimens are much prized by collectors.
About the locality
The Malad quarry, the world's top location for okenite, is now permanently closed. City expansion swallowed the mine, and the site is now covered with buildings and parking lots. Specimens are still on the market thanks to the huge amount mined between 1970 and 1990, but finding large pieces with intact fibers is getting harder and harder.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0420
- Composition
- Ca₅Si₉O₂₃·9H₂O
- Name
- Okenita
- Group
- Filosilicatos
- Category
- Asteris Explosio
- Matrix
- Basalto
- Mine
- Malad Quarry
- District / Municipality
- Mumbai Suburban District
- Province
- Konkan
- Region
- Maharashtra
- Country
- India
- Size (cm)
- 1 x 1 x 1
- Weight
- 4.5 g
- Etymology
- Okenite is named in honour of the German naturalist Lorenz Oken (1779–1851) for his contribution to nineteenth-century science. It was first described in 1828.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Calcedonia Estalactítica — India
- Escolecita — India
- Mordenita — India
- Heulandita — India
- Thomsonita — India
- Heulandita — India
- Natrolita (Rosa) — India
- Apofilita — India