Eitelite

eitelite

reedmergnerite

leucosphenite

searlesite

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Formula: Na2Mg(CO3)2
Anhydrous normal carbonate
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 2.737 measured, 2.732 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless
Environments

Sedimentary environments

Localities

In the Vuonnemiok River Valley, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, eitelite has been found from an alkaline igneous pluton (HOM).

At the type locality, the Carter Oil Company Poulson No. 1 Well, Duchesne county, Utah, USA, eitelite has been found in cores and cuttings in dolomitic shale, together with reedmergnerite, leucosphenite, searlesite, crocidolite and shortite. The eitelite occurs as crystals a few mm in diameter (AM 40.326-327).

At the Mapco Shrine Hospital No. 1 well, Duchesne county, Utah, USA, eitelite has been found throughout a core sample. The most abundant associated carbonates are trona, nahcolite and shortite; northupite is less common. Magnesio-riebeckite is found with trona in places. The enclosing rock is brown marlstone. In a few places, eitelite constitutes up to 60% of the rock and its crystals may reach up to 17 mm in size; elsewhere it is in small scattered crystals in the marlstone with shortite (AM 58.211-217).

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