Litvinskite
Na₂([ ],Na,Mn)ZrSi₆O₁₂(OH,O)₆

     Cancrisilite was revealed by recent investigations by Dr. Igor Pekov of Moscow State University in material from sodalite xenoliths from MSH. It is a member of the cancrinite group. It has been identified from material as early as 1984 and up to 1991. It is a member of the lovozerite group. Exposed grains of litvinskite tend to be partially coated with an efflorescence of thermonatrite.

     This species was collected at mont Saint-Hilaire before it was described as a new species.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is honey-yellow, orange-yellow and brown.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; Cm.
Crystal Habits include irregular grains and crude crystals up to
   2mm in length.
Cleavage [110] is imperfect.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.61 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, cancrisilite, eudialytes,
   kapustinite, kentbrooksite, lovozerites, molybdenite, pectolite,
   sphalerite, steenstrupine, thermonatrite and villiaumite.
Distinguishing Features: brittle.
Origin: Named in 2000 after Galina P. Litvinskaya (1920-1994),
   former crystallographer of the Moscow State University. It had
   been originally accepted as IMA 1999-017.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
ZVMO 129:45-53 (2000)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

Legend