Chkalovite
Na₂BeSi₂O₆

     The occurrence of chkalovite at Mont Saint-Hilaire is extremely rare. It is also difficult to recognize.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually colorless.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; F2dd.
Crystal Habits include complex equant crystals.
Cleavage is not apparent.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.7 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, lovozerite group,
   lueshite, sérandite, sodalite, steenstrupine, ussingite and
   villiaumite.
Distinguishing Features: none.
Origin: Named in 1939 for Valery Pavlovich Chkalov (1904-1938),
   Russian aviator who made the first flight over the North Pole from
   Moscow to the United States.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:303 (1990), Dana 8:1332 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

Legend