Studies on the zeolites. Part IX. Scolecite and metascolecite

Abstract

Scolecite was recognized as an independent species by A. F. Gehlen and J. N. Fuchs (1813), being one of the species into which they divided, on chemical grounds, the mesotype of R. J . Haüy (1801). Its individuality has rarely been doubted, though occasionally the union of natrolite, mesolite, and scolecite into one isomorphous group has been proposed.Three varieties of scolecite have been described, but all have proved to be other minerals. Thus poonahlite (H. J. Brooke, 1831 ; = mesolite) was long included with scolecite. Lehuntite (T. Thomson, 1836; = natrolite) was classed as a soda-scolecite by A. Kenngott (1850) solely on account of its high water content. And a mineral from Pargas, Finland, was described by N. Nordenskiöld (1821) as anhydrous scolecite (wasserfreies Scolezit); this was copied by W. Phillips (1823) as 'scolecite', and this incorrect copy appears to be the authority for the citation of Pargas as a scolecite locality by Dana and others.