Senaite

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Senaite crystals - click for larger pic
Senaite crystals – 3mm
Photo by Gilles Haineault
© Gilles Haineault

Pb(Ti,Fe,Mn)2138

Senaite, a member of the crichtonite group, is extremely rare at Mont Saint-Hilaire.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually black.
Luster is submetallic.
Diaphaneity is opaque.
Crystal System is hexagonal; 3.
Crystal Habits include sharp equant crystals to 1mm forming cyclic
twins (trillings).
Cleavage not observed.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 5.3 g/cm
Streak is black.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, catapleiite and microcline.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit (trillings).
Origin: Named in 1898 after Joaquim Candido da Costa Sena
(1852-1919), Brazilian professor of mineralogy.

CLASSIFICATION:

Dana System
# 8.5.1.4

Strunz Classification
# IV/C.09-80

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:334-335 (1990), Dana 8:366 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH
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