What is Edingtonite?
Edingtonite is a rare barium zeolite-group silicate, generally found as colourless or white crystals in cavities and alkaline volcanic rocks.
Mineralogy and structure
Reference formula: BaAl2Si3O10·4H2O. Edingtonite is a hydrated framework silicate. Composition and dehydration can vary, so the structure image is marked representative when the COD record is a substituted edingtonite.
Colour and appearance
Typical colours include colourless, white, pale yellow. The usual prismatic, tabular, radiating habit and vitreous, pearly lustre are useful descriptive features, but colour alone is not diagnostic.
Formation and localities
Edingtonite forms in or is associated with basaltic cavities, alkaline igneous rocks and low-temperature hydrothermal veins. Important documented localities include Scotland, Ireland, India, Canada and the United States.
Collecting and care
Protect from acids, abrasion and strong heating; zeolitic water and delicate crystal faces are easily damaged.
Edingtonite in popular symbolism
Modern crystal guides sometimes associate Edingtonite with symbolic themes based on colour or collecting tradition. These associations are cultural interpretations, not mineralogical or medical properties.
