What is the Difference Between Stilbite and Heulandite?

Stilbite and heulandite are both members of the tectosilicate group and are naturally occurring mineral substances. They share some similarities, but there are key differences between the two:

1. Crystal Systems: Stilbite can occur in monoclinic, triclinic, and orthorhombic crystal systems, whereas heulandite occurs in a monoclinic crystal system.
2. Appearance: Stilbite has a colorless, white, or pink appearance, while heulandite can be colorless, yellow, green, white, or pale pink.
3. Crystal Form: The crystal form of stilbite and heulandite is quite different.
4. Species: Heulandite has five species in its series (heulandite-Ca, heulandite-Na, heulandite-K, heulandite-Sr, and heulandite-Ba), while stilbite only has two species (stilbite-Ca and stilbite-Na).
5. Discovery: Heulandite was recognized as a separate mineral species in 1997, distinguishing it from stilbite.

In summary, stilbite and heulandite are both tectosilicate minerals with some similarities, but they differ in their crystal systems, appearances, crystal forms, and species.

Comparative Table: Stilbite vs Heulandite

Here is a table comparing the differences between stilbite and heulandite:

Both stilbite and heulandite are members of the tectosilicate group and fall under the group of zeolites, which are naturally occurring mineral substances. They are both used in the petrochemical industry due to their structure's exposed channels, which serve as a molecular sieve, allowing them to isolate hydrocarbons during the petroleum refining procedure.