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Searlesite crystals – 1,2mm
Photo by Gilles Haineault
© Gilles Haineault
Searlesite crystals
© Doug Merson
NaBSi(OH)
Searlesite is extremely rare at MSH. Specimens fluoresce green with a bluish tint under SW.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually colorless.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic,
Crystal Habits include sharp tabular prismatic crystals to 3mm.
Cleavage {100} is micaceous, {010} and {001} are average.
Fracture is not apparent due to cleavage.
Hardness is 1 – 2.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.45 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, eudialyte, natrolite, sodalite
and steenstrupine.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habits.
Origin: Named in 1914 after John W. Searles, American pionneer
and discoverer of Searles Lake.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 74.3.5.4
Strunz Classification
# VIII/G.05-10
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:334 (1990), Dana 8:1566 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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