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Lamprophyllite aggregates
L. Horváth sp.
Photo by Violet Anderson
© Royal Ontario Museum
Lamprophyllite crystals
© Gilles Haineault
Lamprophyllite crystals
© Doug Merson
Na(Sr,Ba)Ti(SiO(OH,F)
Lamprophyllite is a rare species from MSH, and is not distinguishable from its analog barytolamprophyllite.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually pale yellow, orange, orange-yellow and brownish
yellow.
Luster is vitreous to waxy or dull.
Diaphaneity is transparent to opaque.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/
Crystal Habits include fine fibrous and foliated thin strips to 2mm
forming compact spheres, and as sharp bladed crystals to 4mm.
Cleavage {100} is perfect, micaceous.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 2 – 3.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.4 g/cm
Streak is pale brown to yellowish.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, eudialyte, fluorite,
nepheline, pectolite, sodalite and villiaumite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and luster.
Origin: Named in 1894 from the Greek lampros, shining, plus
phyllon, leaf, alluding to its high luster and excellent cleavage.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 56.2.6c.4
Strunz Classification
# VIII/C.13-30
REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:316 (1990), Dana 8:1175 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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