Raite

raite

zorite

mountainite

natrolite

Images

Formula: Na₃Mn²⁺₃Ti_0.25(Si₈O₂₀)(OH)₂.10H₂O
Valence: Na₃Mn²⁺₃Ti⁴⁺_0.25Si₈O₂₀(OH)₂.10H₂O
Phyllosilicate (sheet silicate), palygorskite group, manganese- and titanium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 2.32 to 2.39 measured, 2.51 calculated
Hardness: 3
Streak: Yellow
Colour: Pale brown to golden-yellow, reddish brown, tan, rose, lavender, bronze
Solubility: Insoluble in water, slowly decomposed by dilute hydrochloric or nitric acid giving skeletal silica
Common impurities: Ca,Ti,Fe,Zr,Al,Nb,Ta,Mg,K,C
Environments

Pegmatites

Localities

At the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada, raite is associated with aegirine, albite, nepheline, sodalite, sérandite, analcime, ancylite, epididymite, eudialyte and nenadkevichite (HOM).
Raite from the Poudrette Quarry - Image

At the type locality, the Yubileinaya pegmatite, Karnasurt Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, raite and zorite were found in the alkalic pegmatite on walls of fractures and cavities filled by nepheline; they are associated with aegirine, mountainite and natrolite (AM 58.1111-1115).
Raite occurs as acicular crystals 1 to 2 mm long, 0.02 to 0.04 mm thick (Mindat)
Raite from the Yubileinaya pegmatite - Image

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