Scapolite purple natural crystal 18.9g, Afghanistan

Scapolite is a mineral that belongs to the tectosilicates and specifically to the scapolite group. It is an aluminosilicate mineral that can be a variety of colors, including white, gray, pink, yellow, or purple. This mineral is characterized by its crystalline structure and is often found in metamorphic rocks.

This is the complete name for several similar minerals with a similar crystal structure but differing in composition. Scapolite is usually composed of aluminum, silicon, calcium, and sodium, while it may also contain other elements such as titanium, iron, magnesium, and lithium. The hardness of scapolite ranges from 5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Hardness may depend on the specific variant of scapolite. Scapolite has a complex crystal structure that can be identified using X-ray crystallography. Scapolite is birefringent, meaning it splits light rays into two rays with different speeds. Many types of scapolite can exhibit fluorescence under UV light. The color of the fluorescence depends on the presence of various trace elements or defects in the crystal structure. For example, some varieties of scapolite can fluoresce pink, orange, or red under UV light.