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Riebeckite crystals
Photo by Stephan Wolfsried
© Stephan Wolfsried
Riebeckite crystals
Photo by Modris Baum
© Modris Baum
NaFe2+Fe3+(Si22(OH)
Riebeckite, a member of the amphibole group, is fairly rare at Mont Saint-Hilaire.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually grayish blue or grayish green.
Luster is vitreous to silky.
Diaphaneity is translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/
Crystal Habits include matted or radiating flexible fibers to 5cm.
Cleavage {110} is perfect.
Fracture is uneven to subconchoidal.
Hardness is 5 – 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.2 g/cm
Streak is gray.
Associated Minerals include albite, apophyllite series, calcite,
eudialyte and pectolite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1888 after Emil Riebeck (1853-1885), German
explorer who collected the mineral.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 66.1.3c.5
Strunz Classification
# VIII/F.08-50
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:333 (1990), Dana 8:1361-1364 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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