Paulingite

Paulingite was named for Linus Carl Pauling (1901–1994), professor of chemistry, California Institute of Technology and accepted by the International Mineralogical Association in 1960.

The early formation in the crystallization sequence and the high water content suggest that paulingite forms from relatively dilute pore fluids.

[citation needed] Paulingite's characteristic structure can be observed while the remaining water content decomposes.

A single crystal X-ray refinement of this chemically different sample material derived three main cation positions, which are inside a so-called paulingite or calcium (Ca), between 8-rings of neighbouring barium (Ba), and in the centre of the non-planar 8-rings of the -cage potassium (K).Kamb and Oke in 1960 first described paulingite from vesicles in the Tertiary, augite-bearing, basaltic rocks at the Rock Island dam in Washington, where it is associated with clinoptilolite (Na,K,Ca)2–3Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O36·12H2O), phillipsite (Ca,Na2,K2)3Al6Si10O32·12H2O, calcite (CaCO3), and pyrite (FeS2).

Zeolite minerals are crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicate of alkali and alkaline cations with a three-dimensional structure.

It is a rare zeolite mineral with a dodecahedron crystal form {110} and has a very large unit cell with a = 3.51 nanometers.

The mineral information was described by Kamb and Oke (1960) which has Si/Al ratio of 3.0, a BaO range of 0.5–4.1% and 18.5% of water content (Tscherinch and Wise, 1982).

It was determined from rotation photograph using copper Ka radiation, nickel filtered, with the film in self-calibrating arrangement.

There are following localities where paulingite are also found which include Riggins in Idaho country, Ritter in Grant county and Chase creek in British Columbia.

Large crystals from the Giant's Causeway and Craigahulliar, Portrush, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.