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Formula: K3Na4(Fe,Mn,Ti)2Si8O20(OH,O)4.4H2O
Inosilicate (chain silicate), manganese- and
titanium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.75 measured, 2.73 calculated
Hardness: 2 to 3
Streak: White
Colour: Olive-green with brownish or yellowish shades
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV
Solubility: Slightly soluble in weak hydrochloric, nitric and sulphuric acids
Common impurities: Mg,Ca
Environments
Localities
There are two co-type localities, the Koashva Open Pit, Koashva Mt, and Rasvumchorr Mt, both at the Khibiny Massif,
Murmansk Oblast, Russia.
At the type localities ershovite occurs in unweathered (subsurface)
pegmatites. It forms disseminated elongate grains with a
maximum dimension of 10 mm and parallel fibrous aggregates up to 3 cm long. Associated minerals include
orthoclase, nepheline,
sodalite, aegirine,
alkali amphibole, villiaumite,
natrite, rasvumite,
vuonnemite, astrophyllite,
shcherbakovite,
kazakovite, koashvite,
thermonatrite and nacaphite
(AM 79.1010).
Ershovite from the Koashva Open Pit -
Imahge
Ershovite from Rasvumchorr Mt - Image
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