Lévyne-Ca is a rare calcium-dominant zeolite typically occurring as sharp, stepped rhombohedral crystals lining vesicles in basaltic rocks. Collectors prize it for its distinctive crystal morphology and complex twinned habits, which often resemble those of chabazite. It is most commonly found in regions of significant tertiary volcanic activity.
Is this lévyne-ca?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch lévyne-ca with a known reference. Lévyne-Ca sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, grayish white, reddish white, yellowish white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: fibrous, radial.
Often confused with
Lévyne-Ca vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃(Si₁₂Al₆)O₃₆·18H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 2.09-2.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, radial
- Cleavage
- {1011}, indistinct
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Typically as a crystalline lining in cavities in basalts
Where rockhounds find lévyne-ca
Classic worldwide localities
- Table Mountain, Jefferson Co., Colorado, USA
- Spray, Wheeler Co., Beech Creek, Grant Co., and Goble, Colombia Co., Oregon, USA
- Dalsnipa, on Sandoy
- Rossafelli and Nesvik, on Streymoy
- Onundarfjord, Iceland
- Dyrafjord, Iceland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Typically as a crystalline lining in cavities in basalts. If you start seeing zeolites in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lévyne-ca?+
Where is lévyne-ca found?+
What rocks look like lévyne-ca?+
What minerals are found with lévyne-ca?+
What kind of rock does lévyne-ca form in?+
What is lévyne-ca used for?+
Find lévyne-ca on the map
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