Okenite

Okenite is a rare, silicate mineral that is composed of calcium, sodium, silicon, and oxygen. It was named after the German naturalist Lorenz Oken.

Okenite typically occurs as colorless or white, fibrous crystals, often in radiating clusters or tufts.

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Information about Okenite

 

Appearance

Okenite is an unusual mineral for sure – it looks, frankly, like a fluffy pom pom someone cut off a hat. It is a fibrous mass of radiating needle crystals, which form small balls.

Uses and History

Okenite has no industrial uses at all, as far as I can tell, however, due to its unusual appearance it is prized by mineral collectors. It is difficult to extract, which adds to both its value and rarity.

Okenite was described in 1828 and named after the German naturalist Lorenz Oken.

 

Locales

Africa:

Asia:

  • Bombay Quarry, Mumbai Suburban District, Salsette Island, Konkan Division, Maharashtra, India
  • Malad Quarry, Malad, Mumbai Suburban District, Salsette Island, Konkan Division, Maharashtra, India
  • Nashik quarries, Nashik District, Nashik Division, Maharashtra, India
  • Pune District, Pune Division, Maharashtra, India
  • Vani-Dindori area, Dindori, Nashik District, Nashik Division, Maharashtra, India

Europe:

  • Bramburg Quarry, Adelebsen, Göttingen District, Lower Saxony, Germany
  • Queertarsuaq (Godhavn), Disko Island, Qeqertalik, Greenland
  • Pervomaiskii quarry, Trudolyubovka, Bakhchysarai, Crimea, Ukraine
  • Strond Quarry, Ánirnar, Borðoy, Norðoyar Region, Faroe Islands
  • Valea Arsului quarry, Crișcior, Hunedoara County, Romania
  • Zeilberg Quarry, Maroldsweisach, Haßberge District, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

South America:

Antarctica:

Australia and Oceania:

North America:

  • Bingham Canyon Mine, Bingham Mining District, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
  • Goble, Columbia County, Oregon, USA
  • Road 1449G, Elk Mountain, Toutle, Cowlitz County, Washington, USA

Mineralogy

Chemistry
A calcium silicate mineral with the formula CaSi2O5·2H2O
Colours and Variations
White, sometimes with a slightly yellow tint.
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous
Transparency
Opaque
Fracture
Splintery
Crystal habit
Bladed, fibrous, radial balls
Mohs hardness
4.5 – 5
Fluorescence
Specific Gravity
2.28 – 2.33
Easiest testing method

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.
Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis. When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Translations

Arabic:

Hindi:

  • ओकेनाइट

Portuguese:

  • okenita

Bengali:

  • ওকেনাইট

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

  • okenite

Italian:

Russian:

  • Окенит

French:

Japanese:

  • オケナイト

Spanish:

  • okenita

German:

  • Okenit

Korean:

  • 오케나이트

Thai:

  • โอเคไนต์

Gujurati:

  • ओकेनाइट

Mandarin Chinese:

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links