Pectolite is a white to gray mineral, NaCa<sub>2</sub>Si<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>(OH), a sodium calcium hydroxide inosilicate. 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. A highly sought-after variety known as 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
thumb|left| Pectolite var. [[Larimar ]]
It was first described in 1828 at Mount Baldo, Trento Province, Italy, and named from the Greek pektos – "compacted" and lithos – "stone".