Database of luminescent Minerals

MARIALITE

Chemical Formula: Na₄Al₃Si₉O₂₄Cl

Familly: Silicates

Status: IMA-GP

Crystal System: Tetragonal

Mineral for Display: No

Luminescence:

Phosphorescence (in the common meaning of the term) seen by naked eye:

Comments:

Mineral of the group SCAPOLITE ( see also MEIONITE).
Marialite and meionite are found as masses or blocky crystals in a number of localities in the Grenville marble of Quebec and ontario (Canada). Sometimes (opaque white crystals from Otter Lake, Quebec) fluo red SW (activator: Fe) and white LW.

Main Activator(s) and spectrum:

Most Common Activator: Mn²⁺

Other activators:            S₂^- , Fe³⁺ , Eu²⁺ , O^-₂ ,

Peaks in the spectrum (nm):

(O₂)^- replacing Cl^- (?) : weak band around 500nm
(S₂)^- replacing Cl^- (?) : another weak band around 600nm 
Mn²⁺  replacing Ca²⁺ (?) : peak at 700nm
Fe³⁺ replacing Al³⁺ : side band around 750nm 

Best Locality for luminescence(*):

• Bancroft, Ontario, Canada (wernerite);
• Gooderham area, Haliburton Co., Ontario, Canada (weak red SW);
• Otter Lake, Quebec, Canada (wernerite) (bright yellow-orange LW, weaker SW);
• Franklin, New jersey, USA;
• Karur, Tamilnadu, India (red SW);
• Old Mine Park, Long Hill, Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA (pink-lavender SW);
• Pitwak Mine, Koksha Valley, Khash & Kuran Wa Munjan Districts, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan (pseodomorph after orthoclase, bright yellow LW);

(*)Data are not exhaustive and are limited to the most important localities for fluorescence

Bibliographical Reference for luminescence:

• The Henkel Glossary of Fluorescent Minerals, Dr. Gerhard Henkel, Published by the FMS, 1989 ,
• Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light, Manuel Robbins, 1994, Geoscience Press, ISBN 0-945005-13-X ,
• Luminescent Spectra of Minerals, Boris S. Gorobets and Alexandre A. Rogojine, Moscow, 2002 ,

Luminescence Reference on internet:

• Mineral van de maand: marialiet, door Rik Dillen, Herwig Pelckmans, Axel Emmermann, Georges Claeys in Geonieuws, newletter of the MKA, december 2010;

Images:

• Old Mine Park, Connecticut, USA: http://www.mindat.org/photo-513671.html
• Old Mine Park, Connecticut, USA: http://www.mindat.org/photo-513673.html
• Koksha Valley, Afghanistan: http://www.mindat.org/photo-558694.html
• Koksha Valley, Afghanistan: http://www.mindat.org/photo-613646.html

Mineralogical Reference on internet:

  http://www.mindat.org/show.php?name=Marialite

  http://webmineral.com/data/Marialite.shtml

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