Faujasite-Na
Na₂₆REE₆(SiO₃)₆(PO₄)₆(CO₃)₆(S⁴⁺O₂)O

     Modris Baum had picked up this specimen in May 1997 without being able to confirm its identity with certainty. Subsequently it was confirmed as a new species from MSH by Malcolm Back of the Royal Ontario Museum and Robert Gault of the Canadian Museum of Nature using XRD and semi-quantitative microprobe analysis. Only a few small specimens were discovered at the time, a few others have since been identified. Its crystal faces are sometimes frosted, sometimes clear.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is colorless.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is isometric;Fd3m.
Crystal Habits include octahedrons, always twinned or in clusters.
Cleavage {111} is perfect.
Fracture is conchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 4.5 - 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 1.93 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include gmelinite and phillipsite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and color.
Origin: Named in 1842 for Barthélemy Faujas de Saint Fond (1741-1819),
   French geologist and writer on origins of volcanoes.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
Dana 8: 1659-1660 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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