Best viewed using Adobe Flash Player (8 or higher).
Download hereGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Pollucite is a mineral that is encountered in pegmatites enriched in lithium. It is the cesian analogue of analcime.
Its crystals are cubic, dodecahedral even trapezoedric and are very often striated. They can measure up to 12 cm. Pollucite is colourless to white-grayish, transparent and has a vitreous luster.
It is associated to petalite, spodumene, elbaite and quartz. The pollucite deposits are rather unfrequent: the Pala and Mesa Grande districts in California; the districts of Shengus, Skardu and Gilgit (Pakistan) provided large-sized samples and of gemmeous quality. Many other deposits can be quoted: the district of Taquaral in Brazil; the district of Nuristan and Paprok in Afghanistan or Elba Island in Italy.
The type of this species is preserved at Bergwerk Akademie of Freiberg in Germany.
HISTORY : Name from the lthe Greek mythology where Pollux is the brother of Castor, in reference to its association with castorite (ancient name of petalite)
Species first described in 1846 by Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt (1791-1873), German mineralogist
Type-locality : Monte Capanne, Elba Island, Tuscany
CHEMICAL FORMULA : (Cs,Na)(AlSi2)O6 nH2O
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Colorless, white, gray, pink, blue, violett
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to greasy
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGIE : Cubic crystals, dodecahedric, striated
HARDNESS : 6,5-7,0
CHEMICAL CLASS: 2,94
DENSITY : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Analcime
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/J.27-20
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.GB.05
