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Formula: K2ZrSi3O9
Cyclosilicate (ring silicate), benitoite group,
zirconium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 3.10 to 3.13 measured, 3.16 calculated
Hardness: 5½ to 6
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, light blue or pink
Luminescence: Cathodoluminescent
Solubility: Insoluble in hot acids
Common impurities: Ti,Al,Fe,Mg,Sr,Na,H2O,P
Environments
Volcanic igneous environments
Pegmatites
Carbonatites
Wadeite occurs in leucite-bearing volcanic rocks,
carbonatite veins and
nepheline syenite
pegmatites (Webmin); it alters to
ancylite and zeolites
(Dana).
Localities
At the type locality, the Walgidee Hills, Noonkanbah Station, Derby-West Kimberley Shire, Western Australia,
wadeite occurs in veins in leucite
lamproites. Associated minerals include
leucite, phlogopite,
olivine, titanium-bearing
potassic-fluoro-richterite,
perovskite, apatite,
calcite, baryte,
chalcedony and zeolites
(HOM).
At the Saima complex, Kuandian county, Dandong, Liaoning, China,
orthoclase, nepheline,
biotite and minor clinopyroxene
occur as rock-forming minerals in the nepheline syenite
pegmatite. Magmatic growth rims of some
nepheline and microcline
crystals have been altered to natrolite, but aggregates of
clinopyroxene and biotite remain
unaltered. The accessory minerals are mainly rinkite-(Ce),
calcite, titanite and
wadeite. Anhedral calcite crystals about several hundred microns in
size frequently occur associated with nepheline and
clinopyroxene or in the interstices of these rock-forming minerals. Other
accessory minerals include pyrite,
strontianite and fluorite
(CM 57.903-924).
At the Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, wadeite occurs in
nepheline-feldspathoid and
natrolite veins in the differentiated alkalic massif, associated with
astrophyllite, biotite,
aegirine, titanite,
sodalite, baryte,
apatite, fluorite and
zeolites
(HOM).
At the Koashva Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia,
alexkhomyakovite occurs in a peralkaline
pegmatite, associated with
villiaumite, natrite,
K-feldspar, pectolite,
sodalite, biotite,
lamprophyllite, titanite,
fluorapatite, wadeite,
burbankite, rasvumite,
djerfisherite and molybdenite
(EJM 31.1.135–143).
At the Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, wadeite occurs in
nepheline syenite
pegmatites, replaced by
lepidomelane plus zircon or
catapleiite
(Dana).
At the Kovdor Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, wadeite occurs in
carbonatite veins
(Dana).
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