Geographic Minerals

Clinoptilolite

Clinoptilolite

Clinoptilolite is a natural zeolite comprising a microporous arrangement of silica and alumina tetrahedra. It has the complex formula: (Na,K,Ca)2-3Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O36·12H2O. The name is derived from the Greek words klino (κλίνω; “oblique”), ptylon (φτερών; “feather”), and lithos (λίθος; “stone”).

It is used in many applications such as a chemical sieve, a gas absorber, a feed additive, a food additive, an odor control agent and as a water filter for municipal and residential drinking water and aquariums. It was described in 1969 from an occurrence in Owl Canyon, San Bernardino County, California.

General Information

  • Category: Tectosilicates Zeolites
  • Formula: (Na,K,Ca)2-3Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O3612H2O
  • Crystal system: Monoclinic
  • Unknown space group

Properties

It forms as white to reddish tabular monoclinic tectosilicate crystals with a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4 and a specific gravity of 2.1 to 2.2. It commonly occurs as a devitrification product of volcanic glass shards in tuff and as vesicle fillings in basalts, andesites, and rhyolites.

  • Mohs scale hardness: 3.5 – 4
  • Luster: Vitreous
  • Color is colorless, white, pink, yellow, reddish and pale brown.
  • Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
  • Crystal Habits include blocky or tabular crystals with good monoclinic crystal form.
  • Fracture is uneven.
  • Specific Gravity is approximately 2.2 (very light)
  • The streak is white.

Structure

The structure of clinoptilolite is the same as heulandite and is sheet-like. It forms a series with heulandite:

  • Clinoptilolite-Ca – heulandite-Ca solid solution series
  • Clinoptilolite-K – heulandite-K solid solution series
  • Clinoptilolite-Na – Heulandite-Na solid solution series

Use of clinoptilolite in industry and academia focuses on its ion exchange properties having a strong exchange affinity for ammonium (NH4+). A typical example of this is in its use as an enzyme-based urea sensor. It is also used as fertilizer and sold as a deodorizer in the form of pebble-sized chunks contained in a mesh bag.

 

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