Barentsite

barentsite

shortite

natrolite

villiaumite

Images

Formula: Na₇Al(HCO₃)₂(CO₃)₂F₄
Anhydrous carbonate
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.56 measured, 2.55 calculated
Hardness: 3
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless
Solubility: Slowly decomposed by water, dissolves with effervescence in dilute hydrochloric acid
Environments

Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments

Although barentsite was approved in 1982, to date (September 2023) it has been reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, Restin'yun Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, barentsite was found in a drill core as colourless grains up to 5 mm in size in hydrothermal veinlets in alkalic pegmatites. Associated minerals include shortite, albite, natrolite, villiaumite and natrite (AM 69.565-569).

Back to Minerals