Apophyllite on Prehnite
Fairfax County, Virginia
The single Apophyllite crystal on this specimen measures 8cm on edge
Apophyllite KCa4Si8O20(F,OH) .8H2O
Phyllosilicates, hydrous calcium potassium fluorsilicate, often with a small amount of iron and nickel
Color and Luster: Colorless, white, gray, greenish, yellowish, reddish; vitreous, pearly on cleavage; streak white
Hardness: 4.5-5
Cleavage: Perfect, one direction
Fracture: Uneven
Crystals: Tetragonal; usually cubelike or tabular, square in cross section; also lamellar, granular, compact
Prehnite Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
Complex silicate; calcium aluminum silicate, often with some iron
Color and Luster: Light green, oil-green, gray, white, colorless; frequently fading upon exposure; vitreous, waxy; streak colorless
Hardness: 6-6.5
Cleavage: Distinct, one direction
Fracture: Uneven
Crystals: Orthorhombic; crystals rare, usually in botryoidal masses, with ridged surfaces marked by edges of curving crystals; also stalactitic, radial fibrous
Photo by Mary Sutherland
Descriptions taken from
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals