Zircophyllite
K₂(Na,Ca)(Mn,Fe²⁺)₇(Zr,Nb)₂Si₈O₂₆(OH)₄F

     Zircophyllite is another astrophyllite group mineral recently identified from Mont Saint-Hilaire. It is brittle and displays pleochroism; X and Y are dark yellow and Z is brown.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is red-brown.
Luster is vitreous to adamantine.
Diaphaneity: translucent to opaque.
Crystal System is triclinic; P1.
Crystal Habits include fibrous rims.
Cleavage {001} is perfect.
Fracture is uneven to splintery.
Hardness is 4 - 4½.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.34 g/cm³
Streak is light brown.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, ancylite-(Ce) group, birnessite, kupletskite and microcline.
Distinguishing Features brittle.
Origin: Named in 1972 for the ZIRCOnium in the composition, and the Greek for "leaf", in reference to the habit.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
Dana 8:1384 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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