Ghelinita
Ghelinita is a mineral with formula Ca2Al4Si3O12(OH) + (Na,K,Ca)2Al2Si4O12·6H2O, in the Sorosilicatos group. This specimen comes from Little Plains Quarry, Weldborough, Tasmania, Australia and joined the Terrium collection in 2023.
Description
Vesicular basalt specimen with strong volcanic contrast, bearing orange ghelinite nodules scattered across the dark, porous basaltic matrix. Cavities carry white linings of microcrystalline analcime that add lustre and volume, producing a pronounced vesicular aspect. Some ghelinite aggregates show massive habit with nodular development.
History of this specimen
Collected in Tasmania in 2023; I got it from Aleydis Soliveres. It is part of the set she personally collected and labelled.
About Ghelinita
Uncommon association between a well-crystallised zeolite (analcime) and ghelinite, a rare member of the sorosilicate group. Ghelinite is a rare sorosilicate of hydrothermal origin, recorded in altered volcanic rocks. Its orange colour and nodular aspect make it recognisable, though infrequent.
About the locality
Little Plains Quarry is well known for vesicles lined with analcime and other zeolitic minerals. The cavities formed through volcanic degassing followed by hydrothermal circulation.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0465
- Internal reference
- T0072
- Composition
- Ca2Al4Si3O12(OH) + (Na,K,Ca)2Al2Si4O12·6H2O
- Name
- Ghelinita
- Group
- Sorosilicatos
- Category
- Cavella
- Associations
- Analcima
- Mine
- Little Plains Quarry
- District / Municipality
- Weldborough
- Province
- Tasmania
- Country
- Australia
- Size (cm)
- 9 x 7 x 3
- Weight
- 193.3 g
- Acquired
- 2023
- Ex-collection
- Aleydis Soliveres
- Etymology
- Named in honour of the Italian mineralogist Carlo Ghelina, who first described it.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable