Scapolite: Guide to a rare and little known gemstone

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Scapolite is a rare and little known gemstone. It is a beautiful gem that comes in many colors.
Scapolite was originally discovered in 1913 in the Mogok Stone Tract in upper Burma (Myanmar). There, white, pink, yellowish or violet stones of high quality are found.

Scapolite is actually the name of a series between the sodium chloride rich mineral called Marialite and the calcium carbonate rich mineral Meionite.

Distinguishing the Scapolite minerals from each other can be difficult. Scapolites differ only slightly in density and index of refraction, increasing in both with increasing calcium content. It is because of this closeness in properties and yet seemingly very different chemistries that Scapolite has had its share of pseudonyms the most common being Wernerite. Scapolite has also been know as Mizzonite, Dipyre, Marialite and Meionite.

Yellow Scapolite

The name comes from the Greek "skapos", meaning "shaft" this is due to the fact that it is commonly found in stubby to long prismatic crystals.

Scapolite comes in a nice variety of colors, white, colorless, greenish, gray, yellow, brown, reddish, pink. Scapolite can be easily confused with Amethyst, Citrine, Chrysoberyl and Golden Beryl. Most Scapolite gems are not treated or enhanced in any way.

There is however Lavender Scapolite that is produced by heating rough Scapolite.

Scapolite also comes in exquisite cat's eyes gemstones that are used in fine Jewelry.

Lavender Scapolite

One way to tell Scapolite from other gems is by using a long-wave ultra-violet light. Scapolite can fluoresce with a yellowish to orange color. Quartz and Beryl gems do not display such fluorescence.

Scapolite is a little on the soft side similar to that of Opal. Scapolite is best suited for pendants or earrings.

These gems should not be cleaned in an ultra sonic cleaner. Instead they should be cleaned with a soft lint free cloth.

Scapolite is found in many areas of the World, unfortunately it is only found sparsely and in small pockets, making it very rare. Some locations include: Renfrow Co., Ontario; Franklin, New Jersey, Massachusetts and St Lawrence Co., New York, USA; Arendel, Norway; Mount Vesuvius, Italy and Mexico. Gemstone sources are found in Minas Gerias, Brazil; Madagascar, Tremorgio, Switzerland and Burma.

Colorless Scapolite

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is most commonly white, colorless, greenish or gray but also yellow, brown, reddish, pink, violet or blue colors are possible.
Luster is vitreous on freshly exposed crystals or surfaces but weathering causes a dulling of the luster.
Transparency: Crystals are translucent to transparent.
Crystal System: Tetragonal; 4/m
Crystal Habits include prismatic to stocky crystals terminated by a pyramid. Complete crystals are rare and often the crystals will have distorted shapes with uneven faces.
Cleavage is distinct in several prismatic directions producing a splintery almost fibrous appearance in cleaved massive specimens.
Fracture is subconchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 5.5 - 6
Specific Gravity is 2.5 - 2.7 (average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Will often fluoresce either orange, yellow or more rarely red under ultraviolet light and index of refraction varies from 1.54 to 1.60.
Associated Minerals include hornblende, the garnet minerals almandine and andradite, actinolite, microcline, pyroxenes, apatite, andalusite, zircon, sphene, diopside and muscovite.
Best Field Indicators include color, crystal habit, cleavage surface features, fluorescence and hardness.

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Scapolite: Guide to a rare and little known gemstone

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