Harmotome

Harmotome is a mineral, one of the rarer zeolites; a hydrated barium silicate with the formula: (Ba_0.5,Ca_0.5,Na,K)₅Al₅,Si₁₁O₃₂·12(H₂O). It is a rare zeolite, a hydrated barium silicate that forms vitreous white monoclinic crystals. It was first described in 1801 from an occurrence in the Harz Mountains, Lower Saxony, Germany.

General Information

Category: zeolites
Formula: (Ba₅,Ca_0.5,Na,K)₅Al₅,Si₁₁O₃₂·12(H₂O)
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal class: Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
Member of: Zeolite Group

Fig: Harmotome

Properties

Harmotome is occasionally found with other zeolites like heulandite and stilbite in the typical zeolite occurrence inside of vesicles or bubbles of volcanic rocks. It forms vitreous white well defined monoclinic crystals, often associated with calcite and other zeolites. It has a Mohs hardness of 4 to 5 and a specific gravity of 2.44 to 2.5.

Color: Colorless, white, grey, pink, yellow, brown
Luster: Vitreous
Hardness: 4 – 5
Specific Gravity: 2.41 – 2.47
Transparency: Transparent, Translucent
Streak: White
Hardness: 4 – 5 on the Mohs scale
Density: 2.41 – 2.47 g/cm³ (Measured) and 2.448 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Occurrence: Of hydrothermal origin, in cavities in basalts, phonolites, trachytes; in gneisses, and in some ore veins. Harmotome has been reported from many localities in the Pacific basin, in some cases associated with phillipsite in pelagic clays.

Association: Zeolites, calcite, leucite, hyalophane, strontianite, quartz, kaolinite, barite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena.

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