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Paranatrolite crystals
© Reproduced courtesy of
Canadian
Museum of Nature
Ottawa, Canada
NaAlSi10 · 3H
Paranatrolite is another widespread species at MSH. It was described from Mont Saint-Hilaire in 1980. It dehydrates very rapidly and must be kept in water. According to the recent recommendation on new nomenclature for zeolites minerals from the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), paranatrolite must be considered as a doubtful species and tetranatrolite has been discredited. More analysis is required to prove / discredit the species.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is colorless, grayish, pale yellowish-white and rarely
pale pink or very pale bluish gray.
Luster is greasy.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; Fmm2.
Crystal Habits include epitactic overgrowths on natrolite and
primatic crystals to 5cm.
Cleavage not observed.
Fracture is concohidal.
Hardness is 5 – 5.5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.2 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, amphibole group, analcime,
ancylite, microcline, monteregianite, narsarsukite and natrolite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and dehydration feature.
Origin: Named in 1980 from the Greek para, near, and natrolite,
to which it is very similar.
CLASSIFICATION:
Dana System
# 77.1.5.3
Strunz Classification
# VIII/J.21-20
REFERENCES:
CanMin 18:85-88 (1980), MinRec 21:327 (1990), Dana 8:1680-1681 (1997)
DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:
MSH
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