Hingganite-(Y)
Y₂Be₂Si₂O₈(OH)₂

     A recent addition to the suite of minerals at mont Saint-Hilaire in 2006. It is a member of the datolite - gadolinite group. Hingganite-(Y) was formerly designated as MSH UK-48 at mont Saint-Hilaire. The first specimen of this species was collected at MSH by Cynthia Peat in 1976, and a submission to the IMA in 1990 to have the species recognized as a new species was not successful.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is predominantly beige to light brown.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; P2₁/c.
Crystal Habits prismatic crystals up to 0.3 mm in length in subparallel to irregular clusters.
Cleavage: none.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 6 - 7.
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.54 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, analcime, ancylite-(Ce), biotite group, calcite, catapleiite, cordylite-(Ce), fluorapatite, fluorite, gonnardite, microcline and pyrophanite.
Distinguishing Features: Brittle. No fluorescence observed.
Origin: Named in 1983 for its locality Heilongjiang, and greater Khingan area, Manchuria, China.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
Dana 8:1123 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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