Natromelansonite

natromelansonite

steacyite

polylithionite

melansonite

Images

Formula: Na₃Zr[Si₇AlO₁₉].4H₂O
Phyllosilicate (sheet silicate), rhodesite group, zirconium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.31 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Grey
Luminescence: Fluoresces green under short-wave UV; this is likely due to ytterbium admixture (Mindat)
Solubility:
Environments

Pegmatites

Natromelansonite is a new mineral, approved in 2023 and to date reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada, natromelansonite was found in a highly altered pegmatite together with a clay mineral, steacyite, polylithionite and rhodochrosite. It occurs as an outer zone of tabular crystals to 0.1 × 0.3 × 1 mm³in size. The inner zone is made of melansonite (MM 88.2.195-202).

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