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Paraumbite crystals – 0,3mm
© Gilles Haineault
ZrHSi18 · nH
Paraumbite is an extremely rare mineral species at MSH.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color ranges from colorless to very pale yellow and white to tan.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; (??).
Crystal Habits include hexagonal plates, stacked rosettes and
equant crystals.
Cleavage {010} is micaceous and {100} is less perfect.
Fracture is (??).
Hardness is ~4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, analcime, calcite,
eudialyte, microcline, natrolite, pyrite, rutile, sérandite, siderite,
sodalite and ussingite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1983 from the Greek para, near, and umbite,
to which it is similar.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 59.2.1.2
Strunz Classification
# VIII/F.20-20
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:327 (1990), Dana 8:1225 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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