Vinogradovite
(Na,Ca)₄(Ti,Nb)₄O₄(Si₂O₆{(Si,Al)₄O₁₀}

     Vinogradovite is a rare mineral at MSH. It is difficult to distinguish from ashcroftine-(Y) and lorenzenite.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually pale violet to pink, pinkish brown and white.
Luster is vitreous; silky to pearly in acicular and micaceous habits.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent; opaque in acicular and
   micaceous habits.
Crystal System is monoclinic; C2/c.
Crystal Habits include bladed crystals to 3mm forming radiating cluster,
   acicular crystals to 2mm and embedded spherical micaceous masses
   to 4mm.
Cleavage {010} is perfect.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 5 - 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.0 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, amphibole group, analcime,
   ancylite, calcite, catapleiite, chlorite group, elpidite, harmotome,
   labuntsovite, lorenzenite, marcasite, microcline, pyrochlore, strontianite,
   thermonatrite and villiaumite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit, color and luster.
Origin: Named in 1956 after Aleksander Pavlovich Vinogradov
   (1895-1975), Russian geochemist.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:345 (1990), Dana 8:1379-1389 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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