THE MINERAL GOOSECREEKITE
- Chemistry: CaAl2Si6O16 - 5H2O, Hydrated calcium aluminum silicate.
- Class: Silicates
- Subclass: Tektosilicates
- Group: Zeolites
- Uses: Mineral specimen and chemical filter.
Specimens
Zeolites are known to have an openness about their structure that allows large ions and molecules to reside and actually move around inside the overall framework. The structure actually contains open channels that allow water and large ions to travel into and out of the crystal structure. The size of these channels controls the size of the molecules or ions and therefore a zeolite can act as a chemical sieve, allowing some ions to pass through while blocking others.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is clear and/or white.
- Luster is vitreous.
- Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
- Crystal System is monoclinic.
- Crystal Habits include prismatic, irregular and blocky crystals. Twinning is common and results in parallel growth.
- Cleavage is poor.
- Fracture is uneven.
- Hardness is 4 - 4.5
- Specific Gravity is approximately 2.4 - 2.5 (light).
- Streak is white.
- Associated Minerals are quartz, calcite, epistilbite, heulandite, stilbite and other zeolites.
- Notable Occurrences include Poona, India and Luck Goose Creek Quarry in Loudon Co., Virginia.
- Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, density, hardness and associations.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
GOOSECREEKITE specimen goo-1
$ 300.00
$ 300.00
Dims: 2.4 x 2.0 x 1.6" (6.0 x 5.1 x 4.0 cm)
Wt: 4.6 oz. (131 g)
Pandulena Quarry, Nasik, India
A rounded cluster of tightly-intergrown Goosecreekite crystals rests in the hollow of this small basalt vug. These crystals are small, not exceeding 0.3" (8 mm) in length or 0.2" (5 mm) in diameter, but are in excellent condition due to their protective host. Their monoclinic prismatic form is difficult to study but appears to be very good. They have a white color and a pearly luster, and are translucent. A small, broken cluster of incomplete, brick-red blades is adjacent to the cluster, and both rest on a druse of small, transparent quartz crystals that lines the surface of the vug.
goo-1 ($300.00)
Pandulena Quarry, Nasik, India
GOOSECREEKITE specimen goo-2
$ 105.00
$ 105.00
Dims: 4.3 x 4.2 x 2.1" (11.0 x 10.6 x 5.3 cm)
Wt: 1 lb., 3.4 oz. (550 g)
Mahad Quarry, Bombay, India
This large cabinet piece consists of a quartz-covered basalt base on which rest at least 9 Goosecreekite aggregates. These aggregates generally have dimensions of 0.5 x 0.4 x 0.4" (1.3 x 1.0 x 1.0 cm) and are in very good condition - one is broken and incomplete, and one other aggregate is lightly damaged. Each is made up of several Goosecreekite crystals whose hexagonal forms are difficult to study due to their heavy intergrowth. All have the standard white color and a pearly luster, and are translucent. Other than the crystalline quartz druse that coats the basalt base, there are two heulandite aggregates on the piece - one of these is intact, but the other is badly broken and incomplete.
goo-2 ($105.00)
Mahad Quarry, Bombay, India
GOOSECREEKITE specimen goo-3
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims: 3.2 x 2.1 x 1.2" (8.1 x 5.3 x 3.0 cm)
Wt: 4.2 oz. (121 g)
Mahad Quarry, Bombay, India
Two rounded Goosecreekite aggregates rest on the basalt base of this small cabinet specimen. These aggregates are in excellent condition and reach diameters of 0.7" (1.8 cm) and 0.3" (0.8 cm). Each is made up of many heavily-intergrown, monoclinic prisms, and resembles the "rosette" habit of azurite and other minerals. Both have the standard white color and a pearly luster, and are translucent. The basalt base on which they rest is coated with a layer of white botryoidal agate that is in turn coated with a druse of crystalline quartz.
goo-3 ($ 60.00)
Mahad Quarry, Bombay, India