Caresite has just been described in a belated Canadian Mineralogist.
It is a rare species at MSH.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is usually green-brown.
- Luster is vitreous.
- Diaphaneity: transparent.
- Crystal System is hexagonal; P3112 or P3212 .
- Crystal Habits include tabular to prismatic crystals, barrel-shaped
to 0.5mm.
- Cleavage {001} is perfect.
- Fracture is (?).
- Hardness is ~ 2.
- Specific Gravity is approximately 2.59 g/cm3.
- Streak is white.
- Associated Minerals include aegirine, analcime and microcline.
- Distinguishing Features: Crystal habits.
- Origin: Named in 1992 after Steve Cares (b. 1909) and Janet Cares
(b. 1921), American amateur mineralogists who found the mineral.
Dana class # | 16b.6.4.3 – Carbonates; carbonates containing hydroxyl or halogen |
Strunz class # | V/E.2-7 – Nitrates, carbonates & borates; water-bearing carbonates with unfamiliar anions, manasseite group |