Pseudomesolite from Carlton Peak, described by Winchell (1900), is shown to be mesolite by means of chemical and X-ray data. A proposal to this effect has been accepted by the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Electron microprobe analysis revealed variations in the composition of pseudomesolite and showed the presence of faroelite. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern is similar to that of mesolite. Single-crystal Weissenberg photographs showed a twinning intergrowth which is explained by a 90° rotation of 50% of the unit cells about the c-axis, so that the a- and b-axes of rotated cells coincide with the b- and a-axes respectively of the unrotated cells. This twinning can not be detected optically. Mesolite has recently been proved to be orthorhombic, contrary to the long-held view that it is monoclinic.
Pseudomesolite from Oregon is also shown to be mesolite by single crystal Weissenberg photographs. A wet chemical analysis shows this material to be extremely silica-rich.
