Photo of a crystal of Sarcolite. Collected from mount Vesuvius by William Thomson — Photo: Geni · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sarcolite
A flesh-colored calcium silicate-carbonate mineral — its name literally means 'flesh stone'.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Sarcolite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Na₄Ca₁₂Al₈Si₁₂O₄₆(SiO₄,PO₄)(OH,H₂O)₄(CO₃,Cl).
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4/m).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 6; specific gravity 2.91–2.96; Vitreous luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Sco, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1807.
Found in contact metamorphosed limestone-bearing volcanic ejecta.
It is found associated with Augite, gehlenite, garnet (Monte Somma, Italy); augite, haÄuyne, fluorite (Anguillara Sabazia, Italy).
Its name comes from the Greek for flesh, alluding to the color.