Studies on the zeolites. Part V. Mesolite

Abstract

Mesolite was first recognized as a separate species by J. N. Fuchs (1816), being one of the three species into which he subdivided R. J. Haüy's species mesotype (1801). Its individuality has been repeatedly doubted, many workers regarding the mesotype group as an isomorphous series with natrolite and scolecite as the endmembers, and mesolite merely an intermediate isomorphous mixture. The frequent occurrence of intergrowths of mesolite with natrolite or scolecite is largely responsible for this confusion, these intergrowths frequently passing for single minerals, and being adduced as evidence of the occurrence of all intermediate compositions in the supposed isomorphous series. Faroelites, and mixtures containing faroelite, have also been analysed as mesolite from time to time.