Meieranite

meieranite

sugilite

aegirine

pectolite

Images

Formula: Na₂Sr₃MgSi₆O₁₇
Inosilicate (chain silicate), nordite supergroup
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.41 measured, 3.410 calculated
Hardness: 5½
Streak: Pale blue
Colour: Light blue to blue
Solubility: Insoluble in water, acetone and hydrochloric acid
Environments

Metamorphic environments

Meieranite is a new mineral, approved in 2015 and to date (June 2023) reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari manganese field, Northern Cape, South Africa, meieranite occurs in isolated aggregates embedded in a matrix consisting mainly of pale-green sugilite, along with minor prismatic grey aegirine and colourless pectolite. The mineral assemblage probably formed as a result of a hydrothermal event. Conditions during metamorphism were in the range of 270 to 420^oC at 0.2 to 1.0 kbar.
Meieranite crystals in aggregates are granular, up to 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.4 mm³ in size (CM 57.4.457–466).

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