Poudretteite

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Poudretteite
Poudretteite-382457.jpg
General
Category Cyclosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
KNa2B3Si12O30
IMA symbol Pou [1]
Strunz classification 9.CM.05
Dana classification63.02.01a.08
Crystal system Hexagonal
Crystal class Dihexagonal dipyramidal (6/mmm)
H-M symbol: (6/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group P6/mcc
Unit cell 1,221.72 ų
Identification
ColorColorless, Light pink
Crystal habit Roughly equant barrel-shaped prismatic crystals
Cleavage None
Fracture Conchoidal, splintery
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness5
Luster Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 2.51
Density 2.51
Optical propertiesUniaxial (+)
Refractive index 1.511 to 1.532
Birefringence 0.021
Pleochroism Colorless to pink
References [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Poudretteite is an extremely rare mineral and gemstone that was first discovered as minute crystals in Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, during the 1960s. [6] The mineral was named for the Poudrette family because they operated a quarry in the Mont St. Hilaire area where poudretteite was originally found, and the quarry is currently owned by the United Kingdom based Salmon Mining Industries Inc. Poudretteite has a barely detectable radioactivity. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Analcime</span> Tectosilicate mineral

Analcime (; from Ancient Greek ἀνάλκιμος (análkimos) 'not strong') or analcite is a white, gray, or colorless tectosilicate mineral. Analcime consists of hydrated sodium aluminium silicate in cubic crystalline form. Its chemical formula is NaAlSi2O6·H2O. Minor amounts of potassium and calcium substitute for sodium. A silver-bearing synthetic variety also exists (Ag-analcite). Analcime is usually classified as a zeolite mineral, but structurally and chemically it is more similar to the feldspathoids. Analcime isn't classified as an isometric crystal, as although the crystal structure appears to be isometric, it is usually off only by a fraction of an angle. However, there are truly isometric samples of the mineral, which makes its classification even more difficult. Due to the differences between the samples being too slight, there's no merit from having multiple species names, so as a result analcime is a common example for minerals occurring in multiple crystal systems and space groups. It was first described by French geologist Déodat de Dolomieu, who called it zéolithe dure, meaning hard zeolite. It was found in lava in Cyclops, Italy. The mineral is IMA approved, and had been grandfathered, meaning the name analcime is believed to refer to a valid species til this day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodalite</span> Blue tectosilicate mineral

Sodalite is a tectosilicate mineral with the formula Na
8
(Al
6
Si
6
O
24
)Cl
2
, with royal blue varieties widely used as an ornamental gemstone. Although massive sodalite samples are opaque, crystals are usually transparent to translucent. Sodalite is a member of the sodalite group with hauyne, nosean, lazurite and tugtupite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tugtupite</span>

Tugtupite is a beryllium aluminium tectosilicate. It also contains sodium and chlorine and has the formula Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl. Tugtupite is a member of the silica-deficient feldspathoid mineral group. It occurs in high alkali intrusive igneous rocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natrolite</span> Zeolite mineral

Natrolite is a tectosilicate mineral species belonging to the zeolite group. It is a hydrated sodium and aluminium silicate with the formula Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O. The type locality is Hohentwiel, Hegau, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halotrichite</span>

Halotrichite, also known as feather alum, is a highly hydrated sulfate of aluminium and iron. Its chemical formula is FeAl2(SO4)4·22H2O. It forms fibrous monoclinic crystals. The crystals are water-soluble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugilite</span> Violet-colored crystal

Sugilite ( SOO-gə-lyte, -⁠jee-) is a relatively rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral with the complex chemical formula KNa2(Fe, Mn, Al)2Li3Si12O30. Sugilite crystallizes in the hexagonal system with prismatic crystals. The crystals are rarely found and the form is usually massive. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5 and a specific gravity of 2.75–2.80. It is mostly translucent. Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi (1901–1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, Japan, where it is found in an aegirine syenite intrusive stock. It is found in a similar environment at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. In the Wessels mine in Northern Cape Province of South Africa, sugilite is mined from a strata-bound manganese deposit. It is also reported from Liguria and Tuscany, Italy; New South Wales, Australia and Madhya Pradesh, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabinaite</span>

Sabinaite (Na4Zr2TiO4(CO3)4) is a rare carbonate mineral. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system as colorless to white prisms within cavities. It is more typically found as powdery coatings and masses. It has a specific gravity of 3.36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomasclarkite-(Y)</span>

Thomasclarkite-(Y) is a rare mineral which was known as UK-93 until 1997, when it was renamed in honour of Thomas H. Clark (1893–1996), McGill University professor. The mineral is one of many rare-earth element minerals from Mont Saint-Hilaire. The only reported occurrence is in an alkalic pegmatite dike in an intrusive gabbro-nepheline syenite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neptunite</span>

Neptunite is a silicate mineral with the formula KNa2Li(Fe2+, Mn2+)2Ti2Si8O24. With increasing manganese it forms a series with mangan-neptunite. Watatsumiite is the variety with vanadium replacing the titanium in the formula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howlite</span>

Howlite, a calcium borosilicate hydroxide (Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5), is a borate mineral found in evaporite deposits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carletonite</span>

Carletonite is a rare silicate mineral with formula KNa4Ca4(CO3)4Si8O18(F,OH)·(H2O).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stillwellite-(Ce)</span>

Stillwellite-(Ce) is a rare-earth boro-silicate mineral with chemical formula (Ce,La,Ca)BSiO5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serandite</span> Mineral

Serandite is a mineral with formula Na(Mn2+,Ca)2Si3O8(OH). The mineral was discovered in Guinea in 1931 and named for J. M. Sérand. Serandite is generally red, brown, black or colorless. The correct name lacks an accent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrokentbrooksite</span> Mineral of the eudialyte group

Ferrokentbrooksite is a moderately rare mineral of the eudialyte group, with formula Na15Ca6(Fe,Mn)3Zr3NbSi25O73(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,F,OH)2. The original formula was extended form to show the presence of cyclic silicate groups and presence of silicon at the M4 site, according to the nomenclature of eudialyte group. As suggested by its name, it is the (ferrous) iron analogue of kentbrooksite. When compared to the latter, it is also chlorine-dominant instead of being fluorine-dominant. The original (holotype) material is also relatively enriched in rare earth elements, including cerium and yttrium.

Johnsenite-(Ce) is a very rare mineral of the eudialyte group, with the chemical formula Na12(Ce,La,Sr,Ca,[ ])3Ca6Mn3Zr3WSi(Si9O27)2(Si3O9)2(CO3)O(OH,Cl)2. The original formula was extended to show the presence of both the cyclic silicate groups and silicon at the M4 site, according to the nomenclature of the eudialyte group. It is the third eudialyte-group mineral with essential tungsten, and second with essential rare earth elements. In fact, some niobium substitutes for tungsten in johnsenite-(Ce). Other characteristic feature is the presence of essential carbonate group, shared with carbokentbrooksite, golyshevite, mogovidite and zirsilite-(Ce).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khomyakovite</span> Mineral of the eudialyte group

Khomyakovite is an exceedingly rare mineral of the eudialyte group, with formula Na12Sr3Ca6Fe3Zr3W(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(OH,Cl)2. The original formula was extended to show the presence of both the cyclic silicate groups and M4-site silicon, according to the nomenclature of the eudialyte group. Some niobium substitutes for tungsten in khomyakovite. Khomyakovite is an iron-analogue of manganokhomyakovite, the second mineral being a bit more common. The two minerals are the only group representatives, beside taseqite, with species-defining strontium, although many other members display strontium diadochy. Khomyakovite is the third eudialyte-group mineral with essential tungsten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manganokhomyakovite</span>

Manganokhomyakovite is a very rare mineral of the eudialyte group, with the chemical formula Na12Sr3Ca6Mn3Zr3WSi(Si9O27)2(Si3O9)2O(O,OH,H2O)3(OH,Cl)2. This formula is in extended form, to show the presence of cyclic silicate groups and domination of silicon at the M4 site, basing on the nomenclature of the eudialyte group. Some niobium substitutes for tungsten in khomyakovite. As suggested by its name, manganokhomyakovite is a manganese-analogue of khomyakovite, the latter being more rare. The two minerals are the only group representatives, beside taseqite, with species-defining strontium, although many other members display strontium diadochy. Manganokhomyakovite is the third eudialyte-group mineral with essential tungsten.

Charleshatchettite is a very rare, complex, niobium oxide mineral with the formula CaNb4O10(OH)2•8H2O. It was discovered in the mineral-rich site Mont Saint-Hilaire, Montérégie, Québec, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lizardite</span> Magnesium phyllosilicate mineral of the serpentine group

Lizardite is a mineral from the serpentine subgroup with formula Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4, and the most common type of mineral in the subgroup. It is also a member of the kaolinite-serpentine group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyleite</span> Hydroxide mineral

Doyleite is a rare aluminum trihydroxide mineral named in honor of its discoverer, the Canadian physician Earl Joseph (Jess) Doyle. It was first definitively described in 1985 and it is approved by the IMA. It was described from Mont Saint-Hilaire, where it is extremely rare.

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. "Mineralienatlas – Fossilienatlas".
  3. Barthelmy, Dave. "Poudretteite Mineral Data". webmineral.com.
  4. "Poudretteite: Poudretteite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org.
  5. "Poudretteite gemstone information". www.gemdat.org.
  6. 1 2 "Poudretteite – The Gemology Project". gemologyproject.com.
  7. Multicolour – Poudretteite Archived 2013-04-12 at the Wayback Machine