Cancrinite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cancrinite

Cancrinite
General
Category Feldspathoid
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na6Ca2[(CO3)2|Al6Si6O24]·2H2O
Strunz classification 09.FB.05
Crystal symmetry Hexagonal pyramidal
H-M symbol: (6)
Space group: P 63
Unit cell a = 12.67(9) Å, c = 5.15(4) Å; Z=1
Identification
Color Grey-green, white, yellow, blue, orange, reddish
Crystal habit Rare as prismatic crystals; typicallt massive
Crystal system Hexagonal
Twinning Rare - lamellar
Cleavage Perfect on {1010}, poor on {0001}
Fracture Irregular/uneven
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 5-6
Luster Vitreous, greasy, pearly
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent, translucent
Specific gravity 2.42 - 2.51
Optical properties Uniaxial (+/-)
Refractive index nω = 1.507 - 1.528 nε = 1.495 - 1.503
Birefringence δ = 0.012 - 0.025
References [1][2][3]

Cancrinite is a complex carbonate and silicate of sodium, calcium and aluminium with the formula Na6Ca2[(CO3)2|Al6Si6O24]·2H2O. It is classed as a member of the feldspathoid group of minerals; the alkali feldspars that are poor in silica. Yellow, orange, pink, white or even blue, it has a vitreous or pearly lustre; a hardness of 5-6 and an uneven conchoidal fracture. It is unusual among the silicate minerals in that it will effervesce with hydrochloric acid due to the associated carbonate ions.

Found originally in 1839 in the Ural Mountains, it is named after Georg von Cancrin, a Russian minister of finance.[1]

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.