Tugtupite
Image: Géry PARENT (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameTugtupite
Chemical FormulaNa₄BeAlSi₄O₁₂Cl
Mohs Hardness4
Crystal Systemtetragonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagedistinct on {110}
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity2.34
Colorspink, rose-red, crimson, white, colorless
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityTunulliarfik Fjord, IlÍmaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland, Denmark
Mineral GroupTectosilicates
Usesjewelry, collector
Associated Mineralsalbite, analcime, chkalovite, sodalite, natrolite, ussingite
Rarityrare
Description
This specimen features a vibrant, translucent pink mass of Tugtupite, showing some rough, uneven surfaces, embedded within a white, granular matrix.
Geological Context
Tugtupite is a rare beryllium mineral typically found in alkaline igneous rocks, such as nepheline syenites and their associated pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, often forming in late-stage alteration zones.
