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Babingtonite is a not a common mineral, and is usually associated with zeolites. It is found as small, dark, lustrous crystals on light-colored zeolites, creating specimens of strong contrast. Such specimens are much sought after by collectors. Recent findings in China have produced some very large crystals unlike any others previously known. Babingtonite sometimes pseudomorphs into other minerals, especially amphiboles as witnessed by the abundance of altered Babingtonite at Paterson and Prospect Park, New Jersey. |
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Chemical Formula |
Ca2Fe2+Fe3+Si5O14(OH)
This is the formula for pure Babingtonite. However, it usually contains a small amount of manganese replacing some of the 2+ iron, and because of this its formula is sometimes written Ca2(Fe2+,Mn)Fe3+Si5O14(OH). |
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Composition |
Basic calcium iron silicate, very often with some manganese |
| Variable Formula |
Ca2(Fe2+,Mn)Fe3+Si5O14(OH) |
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Color |
Black, dark green, dark brown, bluish gray |
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Streak |
Gray |
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Hardness |
5.5 - 6 |
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Crystal System |
Triclinic |
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Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Rarely as prismatic crystals. Most often as small flat plates and in equant crystals, but sometimes in grainy and platy aggregates. Also in thin flattened rectangular crystals and in rosette shaped aggregates. Babingtonite crystals are sometimes striated. |
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Transparency |
Opaque. Translucent in thin splinters. |
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Specific Gravity |
3.2 - 3.4 |
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Luster |
Submetallic |
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Cleavage |
2,2 - forming at an angle near 90º |
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Fracture |
Subconchoidal to uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
Occasional weak attraction to magnetic fields. |
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In Group |
Silicates; Inosilicates |
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Striking Features |
Color, luster, mineral associations, and paramagnetism. |
| Environment |
As a secondary mineral in igneous basalt environments.
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| Rock Type |
Igneous |
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Popularity (1-4)
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2 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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3 |
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Demand (1-3) |
2 |
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- Mineral very similar to Babingtonite in which there is a greater content of manganese over iron over as the second element. Its chemical formula is Ca2(Mn,Fe2+)Fe3+Si5O14(OH). Manganbabingtonite is often regarded as a variety of Babingtonite, but it scientifically classified as a separate species.
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Babingtonite is a rare mineral that is very much sought after by collectors.
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Exceptional crystals, the largest in the world, come from Qiaojia, Yunnan Province, China. Another important Chinese locality of large crystals is the Hongquizhen Quarry, Meigu Co., in Sichuan Province. The Deccan Plateu basalts of India have also produced good lustrous crystals associated with Apophyllite and zeolites, especially at Nasik, Kandivali, Mumbai, and Poona, all in Maharashtra state.
European Babingtonite localities include Baveno, Piedmont, Italy; Arendal, Aust-Agder, Norway; and Grönsjöberget, Borlänge, Sweden.
In the U.S., the most notable occurrence is the Lane Quarry, Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. There are several other quarries in Massachusetts that have produced notable Babingtonite crystals, including the Cheapside Quarry, Deerfield, Franklin Co.; Blueberry Hill, near Woburn, Middlesex Co.; and Mount Tom, Holyoke, Hampden Co.
Very large crystals associated with Prehnite came from the Roncari quarry, East Granby, Hartford Co., Connecticut. The New Jersey traprock quarries, especially Paterson and Prospect Park, in Passaic Co. produce interesting rosette shaped Babingtonite aggregates, very often alter to bluish-gray Actinolite. Manganbabingtonite is well known from the Iron Cap Mine, Graham Co., Arizona.
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The mineral associations and occasional paramagnetism of Babingtonite make it distinct.
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