Nanpingite

nanpingite

montebrasite

apatite

pollucite

Images

Formula: CsAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2
Phyllosilicate (sheet silicate), dioctahedral mica group, mica group, cesium-bearing mineral
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.11 measured, 3.19 calculated
Hardness: 2 to 3
Streak: White
Colour: White to silver-white
Common impurities: Mn,K,Rb,H2O
Environments

Pegmatites

Localities

At the type locality, Pegmatite No. 31, Nanping pegmatite field, Yanping District, Nanping, Fujian, China, nanpingite occurs as plates and scales up to 10 mm across, typically 1 to 5 mm, as radiating and comb aggregates, rarely as pseudohexagonal crystals. White to silver-white in colour, transparent in flakes, vitreous lustre, pearly on sheets, with a white streak. It occurs in association with montebrasite, quartz and apatite in veinlets up to 4 cm wide and 2 cm long in the pollucite-rich middle zone of the muscovite - albite - spodumene pegmatite (AM 75.706-713).
Nanpingite from China - Image

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