Hochelagaite (TL)

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Hochelagaite crystals - click for larger pic
Photo by Violet Anderson
© Royal Ontario Museum

Hochelagaite crystals - click for larger pic
Hochelagaite crystals
© Doug Merson

Hochelagaite crystals - click for larger pic
Hochelagaite crystals
© Modris Baum

(Ca,Na,Sr)Nb11 · 8H

Hochelagaite had been known from Mont Saint-Hilaire for a number of years and designated as UK #50 before it was described. It is spread through several environments, though rare. It is the calcium analog of franconite, and does not fluoresce.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually white.
Luster is vitreous to silky.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; (??).
Crystal Habits include spherical aggregates of fine capillary
crystals, matted fibrous masses.
Cleavage none observed.
Fracture is (??).
Hardness is 4.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, catapleiite, natrolite,
pyrite, siderite and zircon.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1986 from the Algonquian Hochelaga, the original
name for the place that is now Montreal.

CLASSIFICATION:

Dana System
# 8.6.1.2

Strunz Classification
# IV/D.06-50

REFERENCES:
CanMin 24:449-453 (1986), MinRec 21:314-315 (1990), Dana 8:368 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH
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Hochelagaite crystals - click for larger pic
Hochelagaite crystals
© Stephan Wolfsried