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Tugtupite crystals
© Gilles Haineault
Tugtupite crystals
© Doug Merson
Tugtupite crystals
© Doug Merson
Na(BeAlSi12)Cl
Tugtupite is a rare species at MSH. It is photochromic, fading from reddish pink to pale pink on exposure to natural light (process is reversible with UV radiation). Tugtupite fluoresces intense deep red under SW and LW, and displays weak pink phosphorescence for short periods.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color ranges from pale pinkish white to pink and reddish pink.
Luster is vitreous to greasy.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is tetragonal, 4.
Crystal Habits include globular aggregates to 3mm and pseudo-
octahedra to 2mm.
Cleavage dipyramidal is distinct.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is approx 4.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.3 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, cancrinite, natrolite, sérandite,
sidorenkite, sodalite, steenstrupine, terskite and vuonnemite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and fluorescence.
Origin: Named in 1962 after its discovery locality, at Tugtup
agtakorfia, Greenland.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 76.2.3.7
Strunz Classification
# VIII/J.11-50
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:343 (1990), Dana 8:1629 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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