Stilbite Zeolite Group of Minerals
Stilbite belongs to the zeolite group of minerals which are known for their unique crystal structure.
The name stilbite is believed to come from the Greek word 'stilbein' meaning 'to glitter' or 'to shine'. It may also come from 'stilbe' meaning 'mirror'. This name comes from the mineral's strong pearly lustre and scaly appearance.
The mineral stilbite was named in 1797 by French mineralogist, geologist and paleontologist Jean Claude de la Métherie.
It can be translucent to transparent and occurs in several different colours.
A relatively soft mineral it grades 3.5 to 4 on Mohs scale.
Stilbite can be found in Scotland, Giant's Causeway in Ireland and several other countries around the world. Some of the finest material comes from Jalgaon in the state of Maharashtra, India.
