{"title":"Gyrolite","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGyrolite\u003c\/strong\u003e is a rare hydrated calcium silicate mineral, formula NaCa16Si23AlO60(OH)8·14H2O, belonging to the phyllosilicate class and classified within the broader \u003cstrong\u003egyrolite group\u003c\/strong\u003e alongside related species such as \u003cstrong\u003etungusite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003ecentrallasite\u003c\/strong\u003e. It typically forms as radiating, spherical or nodular aggregates in a pseudohexagonal habit, with colors ranging from colorless and white to pale brown or green, a vitreous luster, perfect cleavage, and a Mohs hardness of only 2.5. Its very name, from the Greek word for \"circle,\" reflects this signature globular growth habit, which develops when silica-rich hydrothermal fluids interact with calcium-rich volcanic rock at relatively low temperature, filling vesicles, amygdules, and veinlets in altered basalts and tuffs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe type locality is \u003cstrong\u003eThe Storr\u003c\/strong\u003e, near Portree on the \u003cstrong\u003eIsle of Skye\u003c\/strong\u003e, Scotland, where the species was first described in 1851; nearby occurrences at \u003cstrong\u003e'S Airde Beinn\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Isle of Mull and at \u003cstrong\u003eBallintoy\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eBallhenry\u003c\/strong\u003e in County Antrim, Ireland, are equally classic for the region's basalt-hosted zeolite suites. Exceptional and highly sought specimens come from the Deccan Trap basalt quarries around \u003cstrong\u003eMumbai\u003c\/strong\u003e, India — particularly \u003cstrong\u003eMalad Quarry\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eDindoshi\u003c\/strong\u003e in Maharashtra — where gyrolite forms lustrous spherules in association with \u003cstrong\u003eokenite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eapophyllite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eprehnite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003estilbite\u003c\/strong\u003e, and other zeolite minerals. Other notable finds include the basalts of the \u003cstrong\u003eFaroe Islands\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGreenland\u003c\/strong\u003e, the classic \u003cstrong\u003eCrestmore Quarries\u003c\/strong\u003e in California, and Italian occurrences at \u003cstrong\u003eElba\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eMonte Biaena\u003c\/strong\u003e in Trentino-Alto Adige; gyrolite has also been reported from Australia, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Iceland, and Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCollectors prize gyrolite for its delicate, almost porcelain-like spherical crystal habit and its role as a defining accessory mineral in composite basalt-cavity specimens alongside apophyllite, prehnite, and zeolites. Because well-formed, aesthetic examples are uncommon outside a handful of classic basalt terranes, fine gyrolite specimens — especially the glassy Indian nodules and Skye type-locality material — remain a distinctive addition to any systematic silicate or zeolite-association collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fa11-girolite","title":"GYROLITE \u0026 OKENITE – Green Spheres with Fluffy White Tufts, Pune, India","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking combination piece featuring lustrous green Gyrolite spheres, striated and accompanied by smaller satellite balls, alongside delicate tufts of white Okenite resting on a zeolite matrix. The well-developed crystal faces of the Gyrolite spheres are clearly visible, while the Okenite forms soft, cotton-like clusters that contrast beautifully against the green host crystals. This is an uncommon species pairing, prized by collectors for its aesthetic balance and rarity on the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 129 x 106 x 52 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 565 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pune, Maharashtra, India\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45733331533933,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/AGC_20250317_193150239.jpg?v=1788004185"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.italmineral.com\/collections\/gyrolite.oembed","provider":"ITALMINERAL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}