Pyrophanite
MnTiO₃

     Pyrophanite, a member of the ilmenite group, is relatively common at Mont Saint-Hilaire.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually deep carmine red, black on opaque rosettes.
Luster is metallic to adamantine.
Diaphaneity is opaque to transparent.
Crystal System is hexagonal; R3.
Crystal Habits include thin hexagonal plates to 1cm, complex blocky
   crystals and rosette-like aggregates to 2cm.
Cleavage {021} is perfect and {102} is distinct.
Fracture is conchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 5 - 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.5 g/cm³.
Streak is brownish-red.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, amphibole group,
   analcime, ancylite, astrophyllite, burbankite, calcite, catapleiite,
   cordylite, fluorapatite, fluorite, garnet group, natrolite, pyrite,
   rhodochrosite, sphalerite, zircon and UK #48.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and color.
Origin: Named in 1890 from the Greek pyr, fire, plus phainomai,
   to appear, alluding to its reddish brown color.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:331 (1990), Dana 8:228 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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