Calciomurmanite

calciomurmanite

tsepinite-Ca

lamprophyllite

pectolite

Images

Formula: (Na,☐)2Ca(Ti,Mg,Nb)4[Si2O7]2O2(OH,O)2(H2O)4
Sorosilicate (Si2O7 groups), murmanite group, seidozerite supergroup, titanium- and niobium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.70 measured, 2.85 calculated for the empirical formula
Hardness: 2½ to 3
Streak: White
Colour: Pale brownish, purple
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV or an electron beam
Common impurities: Mg,Mn,Fe,Nb,Al
Environments

Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments

Calciomurmanite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2015. It is formed by late-stage, low-temperature hydrothermal alteration (hydration and natural cation exchange) of a high-temperature, anhydrous phosphate-bearing titanosilicate, most likely lomonosovite and/or paralomonosovite, in peralkaline rocks (HOM ).

Localities

There are two co-type localities, Eveslogchorr Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, and Selsurt Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia

At Eveslogchorr Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, in the cotype specimen, a 2 × 3.5 cm fan-shaped aggregate of calciomurmanite lamellae occurs in a hydrothermally altered peralkaline pegmatite together with microcline, aegirine, lamprophyllite, tsepinite-Ca and tsepinite-K (EJM 28.4.835-845).

At Koashva Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, calciomurmanite occurs in the outer zone of the pegmatite as lamellae up to 0.5 cm in size forming chaotic and fan-shaped aggregates. The lamellae contain relics of yellow paralomonosovite and are associated with aegirine, microcline, lamprophyllite and pectolite (EJM 28.4.835-845).

At Selsurt Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, in the holotype, calciomurmanite occurs as irregular lamellae up to 0.1 × 0.4 × 0.6 cm3 in size, sometimes combined in aggregates up to 3 cm in size embedded in a rock mainly consisting of dark green acicular aegirine and white microcline and containing lorenzenite, fluorapatite and minor calcite. The lamellae are most likely pseudomorphs after crystals of an unspecified seidozerite supergroup titanosilicate, probably lomonosovite (EJM 28.4.835-845).
Calciomurmanite from Selsurt Mountain - Image

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