{"title":"Mesolite","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMesolite\u003c\/strong\u003e is a delicate member of the \u003cstrong\u003ezeolite group\u003c\/strong\u003e, part of the \u003cstrong\u003enatrolite subgroup\u003c\/strong\u003e alongside \u003cstrong\u003enatrolite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003escolecite\u003c\/strong\u003e, sitting compositionally between the two with a calcium-to-sodium ratio close to 1:1. It typically forms as fine, hair-thin acicular crystals radiating from a central point, often building dense sprays or domed \"puff-ball\" clusters with vitreous, semi-transparent needles and pyramidal terminations. First described in 1816 from the \u003cstrong\u003eCyclopean Islands\u003c\/strong\u003e near Catania, Sicily, it forms in gas cavities of basalt, andesite and related volcanic rocks alongside other zeolites and \u003cstrong\u003eapophyllite\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe most celebrated modern source is the \u003cstrong\u003eDeccan Traps\u003c\/strong\u003e of Maharashtra, India, especially the classic vugs around \u003cstrong\u003ePune (Poona)\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eNashik\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eAurangabad\u003c\/strong\u003e, where mesolite grows with \u003cstrong\u003estilbite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eheulandite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003echabazite\u003c\/strong\u003e and apophyllite. Exceptional large-crystal sprays also come from \u003cstrong\u003eSkookumchuck Dam\u003c\/strong\u003e in Washington State, from \u003cstrong\u003eProspect Park Quarry\u003c\/strong\u003e in New Jersey, and from classic European sites such as \u003cstrong\u003eTalisker Bay\u003c\/strong\u003e on Skye and \u003cstrong\u003eHvalfjörður\u003c\/strong\u003e in Iceland.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause true mesolite can be nearly impossible to distinguish from natrolite and scolecite without optical or chemical testing, well-documented specimens are especially valued. Its extreme fragility, easily broken needles and tendency to detach from matrix, make undamaged, fully radiating spheres and sprays prized centerpieces for zeolite and systematic mineral collections.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/www.italmineral.com\/collections\/mesolite.oembed","provider":"ITALMINERAL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}