Eudialyte
Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameEudialyte
Chemical FormulaNa₄(Ca,Ce)₂Fe²⁺ZrSi₆O₁₇(OH,Cl)₂
Mohs Hardness5
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagepoor
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity2.9
Colorsred, pink, reddish-brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityKhibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usescollector, minor gemstone, potential source of zirconium and rare earth elements
Associated Mineralsaegirine, nepheline, arfvedsonite, microcline
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen displays a prominent, deep reddish-pink eudialyte crystal with a subhedral to euhedral form, surrounded by smaller granular eudialyte and dark, acicular minerals, likely aegirine, forming the matrix.
Geological Context
Eudialyte is a characteristic mineral of alkaline igneous rocks, such as nepheline syenites and their associated pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, forming in peralkaline intrusive complexes.
