Cryolite
Na₃AlF₆

     Cryolite is an extremely rare mineral at Mont Saint-Hilaire where only a few specimens have been recovered until now.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually colorless to white.
Luster is greasy.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; P2₁/n.
Crystal Habits include sharp pseudo-octahedral crystal to 2mm.
Cleavage none distinct.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 2.5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.97 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, chabazite, eudialyte,
   lovozerite, natrolite, sodalite and villiaumite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1799 from the Greek cryo, for ice and stone,
   in allusion to the icelike appearance of the mineral.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
CanMin 13:37 (1975), MinRec 21:303(1990), Dana 8:412 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

Legend