Raite
(Na,Ca)₄(Mn,Ti,Fe)₃Si₈(O,OH)₂₄ · 9H₂O

     Raite is an extremely rare mineral at MSH.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually reddish brown, red, violet and brown.
Luster is vitreous to silky.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; C222.
Crystal Habits include thin acicular crystals to 0.2mm forming
   radiating aggregates to 2mm.
Cleavage {100}, {010} and {001} are perfect.
Fracture is (??).
Hardness is 3.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.4 g/cm³.
Streak is yellow.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, amphibole group,
   analcime, ancylite, epididymite, eudialyte, lueshite, lovozerite,
   natrolite, nenadkevichite, nepheline, sérandite, sodalite (hackmanite
   variety), sphalerite, steenstrupine, villiaumite and vuonnemite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1973 after the international group of scientists on
   the 1969-1970 voyage of the papyrus ship RA, captained by
   Thor Heyerdahl.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:331 (1990), Dana 8:1711 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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