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Natrolemoynite crystal
© Gilles Haineault
Natrolemoynite crystals
© Doug Merson
Natrolemoynite crystals
© Stephan Wolfsried
Natrolemoynite crystals
© Stephan Wolfsried
NaZrSi1026 · 9H
Natrolemoynite was recently published in The Canadian Mineralogist, Vol 39 #5, October (2001). The occurrence is rare and seems to be confined to pegmatites.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually colorless to white (occasionally with a slightly pink
to red tinge).
Luster is vitreous to subadamantine.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/
Crystal Habits include bladed to prismatic crystals, elongated
along [001], 1 mm wide x 2 mm in length, forming compact
radial aggregates spheres to 4 mm in diameter.
Cleavage {010} and {100} are perfect, {001} is poor.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is approximately 3.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.47 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include calcite, galena, lemoynite, lepidocrocite,
microcline, pyrite and sphalerite (in altered pegmatites), and albite,
biotites, burbankites, chlorites, magnetite, microcline, pyrochlore,
zircon and an unidentified donnayite-(Y)-like mineral
(in unaltered pegmatites).
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and cleavage.
Origin: Named in 2001 for its sodium content and its relationship
to lemoynite.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 74.3.3.3
Strunz Classification
# VIII/G.09-08
REFERENCES:
CanMin 39:1295-1306 (2001)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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Natrolemoynite crystals
© Modris Baum