Narsarsukite

narsarsukitenarsarsukite

elpidite

epididymite

tainiolite

Images

Formula: Na2(Ti,Fe3+)Si4(O,F)11
Inosilicate (chain silicate)
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 2.64 to 2.83 measured, 2.81 calculated
Hardness: 7
Streak: White
Colour: Yellow, yellowish-white, greyish-white, honey-yellow, tan, greenish-yellow
Environments

Plutonic igneous environments
Pegmatites
Metamorphic environments

Localities

At the Papanduva pluton, Morro Redondo complex, Tijucas do Sul, Paraná, Brazil, narsarsukite has been found in the peralkaline granite. Two distinct narsarsukite generations, one late magmatic and the other post-magmatic, were identified. The magmatic generation consists of larger, euhedral to subhedral variably zoned crystals and late poikilitic (where large later-formed crystals surround smaller early-formed crystals of other minerals) intergrowths between narsarsukite and albite laths, representing the crystallisation of the latest melt pockets. The post-magmatic generation forms smaller, typically fibrous crystals and irregular aggregates that occur interstitially or replace the primary mafic minerals, particularly arfvedsonite. The magmatic generation is enriched in Zr and depleted in Al. The Fe3+ and Al contents show a positive correlation for the magmatic crystals, but a negative correlation for the post-magmatic narsarsukite. The Al/Fe3+ ratios are higher in the post-magmatic crystals (MM 87, 896-907).

At the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada, narsarsukite occurs in hornfels, igneous breccia and marble xenoliths in an intrusive alkaline gabbro-syenite complex (HOM).
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At the type locality, the Narssârssuk pegmatite, Narsaarsuk Plateau, Igaliku, Kujalleq, Greenland, narsarsukite occurs in pegmatite associated with aegirine, microcline, albite, elpidite, epididymite, tainiolite and quartz (HOM).
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At Sage Creek, Sweet Grass Hills, Liberty county, Montana, USA, narsarsukite occurs in quartz veins cutting an orthoclase - albite - aegirine - quartz hybrid rock in a zone adjacent to a syenite stock intruding limestone. Pectolite is the dominant vein mineral, and quartz and narsarsukite are also abundant; calcite and galena are the remaining primary minerals in the veins. The paragenetic sequence appears to be pectolite and narsarsukite oldest, followed by galena and calcite, with quartz youngest of all. Minerals associated with narsarsukite include aegirine, pectolite, calcite, feldspar, galena, manganese-bearing pectolite and quartz (AM 44.265-273, HOM). Fresh material was found at the old prospect pit on one of the veins, associated with galena, alunite, epidote, clinozoisite, apatite and feldspar (AM 20.598-601).
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