What is "stellerite"

n. (context geology English) A hydrated calcium aluminosilicate zeolite, similar to stilbite.

Stellerite has a general formula of Ca[ Al Si O]·7 HO. It is named after Georg Wilhelm Steller (1709–1746) who was a German explorer and zoologist that discovered it. Like most rare minerals, there aren’t many commercial uses for stellerite yet. Mineral collectors are lucky to find it in good enough crystal form. Zeolites, including Stellerite, have been studied using a dehydration process to gauge the potential use of their phases as molecular sieves, sorbents, and catalysts.