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Formula: NaNbO3
Simple oxide, perovskite subgroup, orthorhombic
paramorph of isometric
isolueshite, monoclinic natroniobite and
trigonal pauloabibite
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 4.44 measured, 4.58 calculated
Hardness: 5½
Streak: Grey
Colour: Black
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Carbonatites
Metamorphic environments
Localities
At the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada, lueshite occurs in
sodalite xenoliths associated with an intrusive alkalic
gabbro-syenite complex with
sodalite, ussingite,
villiaumite, steenstrupine,
griceite, eudialyte and
lovozerite
(HOM ).
At the type locality, the Lueshe mine, Bwito, Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu, DR Congo, lueshite occurs as incrustations on a
compact yellow mica that occurs at the contact of
cancrinite syenite with
carbonatite containing pyrochlore
(AM 46.1004-1004).
At Igdlunguaq, Tunulliarfik Fjord, Ilímaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland, Denmark, lueshite occurs in
veins cutting nepheline syenite associated with
neptunite, analcime,
altered eudialyte, and rarely with sphalerite
(AM 44.1327 as igdloite, Dana).
At the Gem Park complex, Fremont county, Colorado, USA, lueshite is a common accessory mineral in
carbonatite, formed during
fenetisation of pyroxenite and
gabbro.
Associated minerals include vermiculite,
ilmenite, pyrochlore,
thorianite, perovskite,
fersmite and dolomite
(HOM, Dana ).
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