Meliphanite

meliphanite

leucophanite

natrolite

fluorite

Images

Formula: Ca₄(Na,Ca)₄Be₄AlSi₇O₂₄(F,O)₄
Sorosilicate (Si₂O₇ groups)
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 3.01 to 3.03
Hardness: 5 to 5½
White
Colour: Yellow, yellowish red, nearly colourless
Environments

Plutonic igneous environments
Pegmatites

Localities

There are two co-type localities, Langesundsfjorden, and Stavern, both at Larvik, Vestfold og Telemark, Norway. At Stavern meliphanite occurs in augite syenite associated with natrolite, mica and fluorite (HOM).

At the Sakharjok Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia meliphanite is an abundant mineral within a large nepheline syenite pegmatite and surrounding metasomatite. In the pegmatite, it occurs as euhedral crystals enriched in aluminium, whereas in metasomatite, it forms crystals substantially depleted in aluminium with a higher OH content. Compared to meliphanite from deposits in Norway, the Sakharjok mineral is richer in sodium and contains OH groups. Leucophanite is rare in the Sakharjok massif, where it is closely intergrown with meliphanite in metasomatic rocks (Geology of Ore Deposits 62.764–772)

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