Pectolite is a white to gray mineral, NaCa2Si3O8(OH), sodium calcium hydroxideinosilicate. It crystallizes in the triclinic system typically occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 to 5 and a specific gravity of 2.7 to 2.9. The gemstone variety, larimar, is a pale to sky blue. There is also a whitish form of the mineral from Alaska that is sometimes marketed as 'Alaska jade'.
Occurrence
It was first described in 1828 at Mount Baldo, Trento Province, Italy, and named from the Greek pektos – "compacted" and lithos – "stone".[3][4]