Lévyne-Na is a member of the zeolite group typically found in the vesicles of basaltic rocks. It is best identified by its distinctive rhombohedral crystal habit, which often appears as thin, tabular, or complexly twinned crystals clustered in vugs.
Is this lévyne-na?
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-na with a known reference. Lévyne-Na 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-Na vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lévyne-na
Minerals reported to co-occur with lévyne-na. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₆(Si₁₂Al₆)O₃₆·18H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 2.09-2.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, radial
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {1011}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alteration of basaltic rocks
Where rockhounds find lévyne-na
Classic worldwide localities
- Chojabaru, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Alteration of basaltic rocks. If you start seeing chabazite, phillipsite, thomsonite 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-na?+
Where is lévyne-na found?+
What rocks look like lévyne-na?+
What minerals are found with lévyne-na?+
What kind of rock does lévyne-na form in?+
What is lévyne-na used for?+
Find lévyne-na on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
