Photo of Scapolite in Processed & Rough Form
Scapolite is a mineral with a hardness of 6 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness [?]. These Tetragonally structured gems are made of complex silicate, their full chemical compound being Na4Al3Si9O24Cl-Ca4Al6Si6O24(CO3,SO4).
Scapolite is a mixed crystal series, a complicated sodium calcium aluminum silicate group composed of calcium-rich meionite, and sodium-rich marialite.
It appears as yellow, blue, pink, violet, or colorless prismatic crystals with a tetragonal system, mostly surface-growing, with perfect cleavage. These crystals are usually in aggregates that are massive granular, long columnar, dense, with vitreous luster and poor cleavage.
Pleochroism for pink and violet crystals is dark blue or lavender to colourless or violet. Pale yellow stones show colourless to pale yellow.
Its physical properties are variable, since this is a complex isomorphous series with hypothetical end members marialite and melonite and intermediate member mizzonite. It is hard, light, with specific gravity increasing from marialite to melonite. It is translucent or transparent, often has strong fluorescence in ultraviolet light. It fuses easily to a blistered mass. It is soluble in hydrochloric acid, leaving silica.
It occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks, also in the vicinity of iron-ore bodies; in crystalline-schistose rocks of the mica-schist, gneiss and amphibolite types; in metamorphosed limestone and skarns; and in some pegmatites and granulites.
Deposits are found in Burma, Brazil, Malagasy Republic, Tasmania, Bodenmais/Bayerischer Wald and Saualpe/Karnten (Germany), Kiruna (Sweden), Lake Superior (USA).
Crystals 50 cm (20 in) long are found at Rossie and Pierrepoint, New York (USA), and fine crystals at Renfrew (Ontario) and Grenville (Quebec) in Canada, and at Lake Tremorgio (Switzerland).
Transparent crystals occur in pegmatites in Minas Gerais (Brazil), and Malagasy Republic. It is also found in Val Malenco (Sondrio), and other places in the central Alps, in blocks at Mt. Somma, Pianura (Naples) and Elba (Italy).
Massive scapolite mineral from Ontario, Canada displays bright yellow fluorescence under LWUV (long wave ultraviolet) rays. Yellow specimens from Myanmar giving yellow to orange and some East African yellow stones a very bright yellow-green under LWUV.
Scapolite inclusions have been reported in massive hessonite from Maligawila, Sri Lanka, and also from Lelatema, Tanzania.
Some scapolite gems exhibit chatoyancy. An example is cat's-eye scapolite; a white, pink, or violet, distinctly fibrous variety of scapolite from Mogok, Myanmar (Burma), produces a cat's-eye effect, when cut en cabochon in the correct direction. This is mistakenly called "pink moonstone."
Dipyre is a variety of scapolite with the components marialite and meionite. Also called dipyrite or mizzonite
Wilconite is a pinkish red variety of scapolite.
Scapolite is also called wernerite.
It is often confused with amblygonite, chrysoberyl, and golden beryl.
Why does my Scapolite change color under different lights?
Some Scapolite exhibits strong color change, appearing violet in daylight and pink-orange under incandescent light. This is due to its unique chemical composition and crystal structure. This phenomenon is particularly notable in specimens from Myanmar.
Is Scapolite too soft for everyday jewelry?
With a hardness of 5-6 on the Mohs scale, Scapolite requires careful handling but can be worn in protected settings like earrings and pendants. Avoid rings unless worn occasionally. Protective settings are recommended.
How can I tell if my Scapolite is natural?
Natural Scapolite often shows distinctive needle-like inclusions, natural color zoning, and fluorescence under UV light. Due to its relative rarity, synthetics are uncommon, but glass imitations exist.
Why is purple Scapolite so expensive?
Purple Scapolite, especially from Myanmar (Burma), is rare and highly sought after for its color-change properties. Clear, faceted stones over 5 carats are exceptionally rare, driving up prices for fine specimens.
What causes the cat's eye effect in some Scapolite?
Chatoyancy (cat's eye effect) in Scapolite is caused by parallel tube-like inclusions. This variety is particularly prized when the effect is strong and well-centered. Most cat's eye Scapolite comes from Brazil and Tanzania.
Are yellow Scapolites treated?
Most yellow Scapolites are natural. Unlike many other yellow gems, Scapolite is rarely treated or enhanced. The yellow color comes from natural sulfur in the crystal structure.
The specific gravity [?] for Scapolite is 2.7, its refractive index [?] is 1.54-1.58, and its double refraction [?] is 0.02.
History
Scapolite is named after the Greek word meaning "stick stone" describing its crystal habit. The other name, wernerite, refers to the German explorer.
Industrial Usages
Scapolite is a rare gem mineral often cut as pink or violet cat's eyes, or cut cabochon and faceted.
Some pink-violet scapolite can have a milky appearance and when cut cabochon can imitate moonstone.
It is of interest to scientists and collectors.
You May Also Like...
Schorl Tourmaline: Schorl is the black, opaque, sodium iron rich variety of Tourmaline, a complex borosilicate with a trigonal crystal system. Tourmalines usually occur as long, three-sided prisms, which often have well-terminated ends. Sometimes they are found as parallel or radiating groups of long, thin prisms with striated ridges lining its surface. Its varieties span the widest color ranges in the mineral wor (read full)
Hauyne: Hauyne is a blue feldspathoid rock-forming mineral, one of four members of the sodalite mineral group that is a component of lapis lazuli. The other three are lazurite, sodalite, and nosean. It is a complex mineral of sodium, calcium, aluminum silicate, and sulfate. Hauyne forms very bright and attractive though uncommon transparent blue dodecahedral or pseudo-octahedral crystals of the cubic sy (read full)
Rubellite Tourmaline: Rubellite is the pink to red variety of Tourmaline, which is a complex borosilicate of aluminum and alkali, with iron, magnesium, and other cations. It is found as fine acicular crystals in rocks, or as large individual crystals grown upon matrix where they may reach a weight of several kilograms. Most form elongated and striated trigonal (three-sided) prisms and these are terminated with trigona (read full)
Tugtupite: Tugtupite is a mineral closely related to sodalite and hackmanite, all cyclosilicates whose structural silicate tetrahedrons are arranged in rings. It is also called beryllosodalite and reindeer stone, and crystallizes in the tetragonal system. It is found in fine-grained aggregates of crystals with its own distinctive cyclamen colour. Crystals are very small, tetragonal, almost cubic, or as shor (read full)
Indicolite: Indicolite is the blue sodium-rich variety of Tourmaline, and may come in all shades of blue, from light-blue, violet-blue to deep red or deep green. It generally appears quite a deep blue, even the color of dark blue ink, perhaps appearing green in one direction because of its strong pleochroism. Sometimes indicolite is an overall greenish blue, which, unlike the color of greenish blue sapphire, (read full)
