The Mineral wollastonite
Wollastonite was named in honor William Hyde Wollaston (1766-1828), a British chemist and physicist noted for his inventions in optics. It is an important industrial mineral and is well known for its good fluorescence.
Color
White, beige, gray, light yellow, light green, brown, and pink.
Properties
Streak
White |
Hardness
4.5 - 5 |
Transparency
Translucent |
Specific Gravity
2.8 - 2.9 |
Luster
Vitreous, silky |
Cleavage
1,2 - pinacoidal, similar to that of the pyroxene minerals. |
Fracture
Uneven, splintery |
Tenacity
Brittle |
Other ID Marks
Usually fluorescent yellow, orange, or white. |
Uses
Wollastonite is an industrially important mineral. It is a necessary ingredient in heat-resistant refractory ceramics and is used as a filler in paint. It is also used in the manufacture of paper and plastics.
Due to its fluorescece, Wollastonite is a popular mineral among collectors who specialize in fluorescent minerals.
Noteworthy Localities
European occurrences of Wollastonite include Monte Somma, Vesuvius, Italy; the Stanisław quarry, Świeradów Zdrój, Poland; and Pargas, Finland. In Canada, Wollastonite is found at the Jeffery Mine, Asbestos, Quebec.
In the U.S., Wollastonite occurs in California at the Crestmore Quarry, Riverside Co.; and the Lone Pine Mine, Independence, Inyo Co., California. Upstate New York contains several important deposits, including Natural Bridge; St. Lawrence Co.; the Rose Road Locality, near Pitcairn, St. Lawrence Co.; Lake Bonaparte and Diana, Lewis Co.; and Willsboro, Essex Co. Wollastonite that fluoresces a bright orange-yellow is well known at Franklin and Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey.
Distingushing Similar Minerals
Tremolite - Has different cleavage angles; otherwise can be difficult to distinguish
Pectolite - Crystals more compact and densely fibrous, and usually in different environments than Wollastonite.