Tsepinite-Na

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Tsepinite-Na crystals - click for larger pic
Tsepinite-Na crystals
© Doug Merson

(Na,HO,K,Sr,Ba)(Ti,Nb)[Si12](OH,O) · 3H

Tsepinite-Na is a new member of the labuntsovite-nenadkevichite recently identified on specimens collected back in 1981-1982 from the Horváath collection.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is white.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is opaque.
Crystal System is monoclinic; m.
Crystal Habits include short prismatic crystals to 4 mm.
Cleavage none.
Fracture uneven.
Hardness is 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2,74 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, catapleiite, natrolite, rhodochrosite
and sérandite.
Other Properties brittle.
Origin described in 2001 after Anatoliy I. Tsepin (b. 1946), Russian microprobe analyst.

CLASSIFICATION:

Dana System
# 60.1.3b.2

Strunz Classification
# VIII/E.07-30

REFERENCES:
To follow

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH
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