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Formula: (Na,Ca)3(Ba,Sr,Ce,Ca)3(CO3)5
Anhydrous normal carbonate, burbankite group,
barium-, strontium- and
cerium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 3.8 to 3.9 measured, 3.94 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 4
Streak: White
Colour: Light yellow, almost colourless
Solubility: Readily dissolved by hydrochloric acid
Mildly RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Central Khanneshin deposit, Khanneshin complex, Reg District, Helmand, Afghanistan,
khanneshite occurs as elongated prismatic crystals 5 to 10 mm long, 2 to 3 mm in diameter, disseminated in
fine-grained carbonatite in close intergrowth with
dolomite, calkinsite-(Ce),
mckelveyite-(Y), carbocernaite,
baryte and chlorite; it is commonly altered
and replaced by baryte
(AM 68.1249, HOM).
At the Carbonatite Stock in the vicinity of Tul'ilukht Bay, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, khanneshite was
found in a drillcore in a carbonatite veinlet, associated with
calcite, dawsonite and
magnetite
(HOM).
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