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Silinaite crystals
© Reproduced courtesy of
Canadian
Museum of Nature
Ottawa, Canada
NaLiSi · 2H
Silinaite has been found in two different sodalite syenite xenoliths. The xenolith that contained the co-type specimens was 1 – 2 meters in diameter and is mainly composed of coarse-grained sodalite with minor microcline, natrolite and analcime. In the second xenolith, it was found as small fibrous clusters, poorly formed prismatic crystals and chalky to earthy powdery patches in cavities in villiaumite or aegirine.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is colorless to white.
Luster is vitreous to earthy.
Diaphaneity is opaque to translucent or transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/
Crystal Habits include tabular crystals up to 2mm, fibrous clusters, poorly
formed prismatic crystals, and chalky to earthy powdery patches.
Cleavage: {001} is perfect, {010} is good and {110} is distinct.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.24 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include chkalovite, erdite, kogarkoite, makatite,
natrophosphate, rasvumite, revdite, sazhinite-(Ce), sidorenkite,
thalcusite, tugtupite, vitusite-(Ce).
Distinguishing Features: Non fluorescent. Cleavage.
Origin: Named for its composition (Si + Li + Na + ite), formerly
designated as UK #81.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 74.3.5.3
Strunz Classification
# VIII/G.05-05
REFERENCES:
CanMin 29:359-362 (1991), CanMin 29:363-367 (1991), Dana 8:1565-1566 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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