Minerals of Scotland

ISLE of SKYE - Mineral Photo Gallery

ISLE OF SKYE

Mineral Photo Gallery
ZEOLITES - PART 2

including photographs of
Laumontite - Thomsonite - Stellerite
Mordenite - Stilbite
Natrolite - Phillipsite

The photographs depict typical, representative examples
and may be found helpful for identification purposes.

 

LAUMONTITE

Though fairly common, special care and preparation is necessary to preserve specimens
as a result of the species' dessicatory nature.
 

LAUMONTITE - Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye.
Crystals to 5 mms.
   

LAUMONTITE
Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye.

A bi-terminated crystal to 4mms, with analcime & mesolite.

LAUMONTITE
Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye.

Sprays of crystals to 5mms.
   

THOMSONITE

Thomsonite is fairly common on the Isle of Skye with Moonen Bay, Talisker Bay and The Quiraing
yielding interesting examples. Thomsonite varies in habit with bladed crystals, spherulites,
radial crystal groups and rich coatings of small crystals prevailing.
   

THOMSONITE
Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye.
Spherulitic, fan-like group of crystals with chabazite.

THOMSONITE
The Quiraing, Trotternish, Isle of Skye.
Radiating, crystal sprays to c 3mms on analcime.

   

STELLERITE

Stellerite is found at a number of localities on Skye but Edinbane is perhaps the most well-known occurence.
Since it can only be distinguished from the identical stilbite by chemical analysis,
it may perhaps be more common than presumed.
   

STELLERITE
Black Hill, Edinbane, Isle of Skye.

above - large plate of crystals
right - wheatsheaf group to 1cm.

   

STILBITE

Stilbite is one of the most common zeolites encountered on Skye.
The recent finds at Sgurr nam Boc & Sgurr nam Fiadh
probably include the best specimens to be recovered from the island.
   

STILBITE
Sgurr nam Boc, Eynort, Isle of Skye.

above - a 30mms bow-tie crystal development of stilbite sheaves.
left - bladed aggregates and tightly packed, sheaf-like balls.
(spec: c. 85x65mms).
   

MORDENITE

Mordenite is difficult to determine from other acicular species without professional equipment. However, it is found on the Isle of Skye, most recently at Sgurr nam Boc.

Also found, but not featured is garronite.
It is normally massive. Though, untested, one stilbite locality could prove instead to be an occurence of barrerite.

NATROLITE

Natrolite is less prevalent on Skye than other, similar zeolite species of an acicular habit, particularly, mesolite.

Talisker Bay and Moonen Bay are two sites where it may be found. Natrolite generally appears glassier than mesolite. Nevertheless, more scientific methods are necessary for its verification.
   

MORDENITE
Sgurr nam Boc, Eynort, Isle of Skye.
Delicate, acicular crystals with tiny quartz crystals
attached to their terminations. (view c 10x7mms).

NATROLITE
Oisgill Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye.
A spray of crystals to c 6mms.

PHILLIPSITE

Uncommon, phillipsite is normally the sole occupant of vesicles, though occasionally, chabazite and analcime are minor associates. Phillipsite from Moonen Bay is a Barium-rich variety.
   

PHILLIPSITE
Moonen Bay, Duirinish, Isle of Skye.
Crystals to 2mms as intergrown groups.

   

the end

Links Page

Home Page

ISLE of SKYE
Main Page

introduction
mineral gallery &
location links

SKYE MINERALS
apophyllite - gyrolite erionite/offretite - levyne - mesolite

SKYE MINERALS
calcite - Skye Marble prehnite - quartz - talc clinohumite - zircon

SKYE MINERALS
analcime - chabazite - cowlesite
erionite - heulandite

© Minerals of Scotland website - 2008.