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| Fluorcanasite | |
| Formula: | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30F4•H2O |
| Strunz: | 09.DG.80 |
| System: | Monoclinic |
| Dana: | 78.05.04.02 |
| Class: | Domatic (m) |
| Symmetry: | Bm |
| Unit Cell: | 1,602.59 ų |
| Molweight: | 1,297.67 gm |
| Color: | Light Yellow |
| Cleavage: | Eminent on and Perfect on |
| Fracture: | Hackly, Step-like |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Mohs: | 5 |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Opticalprop: | Biaxial (+) |
| Refractive: | nα = 1.538(1) nβ = 1.546(1) nγ = 1.549(1) |
| Birefringence: | 0.011 |
| Pleochroism: | Strong |
| 2V: | Measured 60° (2) Calculated 63° |
| Dispersion: | Medium r > v |
| Fluorescence: | None |
| Streak: | White |
| Gravity: | 2.68 |
| Density: | Measured 2.68(2) Calculated 2.69 |
| Solubility: | Slowly decomposes in acid |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent |
| Other: | Radioactive 0.77% (K) |
Fluorcanasite is a rare calcium, potassium, sodium fluoride silicate mineral, discovered in the Kirovsk mine's dumps, in Russia. It has been approved by the IMA in 2007. The name fluorcanasite is a portmanteau word, and was made by blending fluorine, a chemical element that can be found in the mineral, and canasite, as the mineral is close to canasite in several ways (analogue of said mineral and a member of the canasite group). Fluorcanasite is also close to frankamenite.[1]
It is the triclinic analogue of canasite, and a member of the canasite group. It grows into prismatic crystals that can reach up to 2 mms in size extending along [010]. It is pleochroic, meaning the color of the mineral seems to change depending on the axis it is viewed at. It is coloured amber, purple and lilac respectively along the α, β and γ optical axes. It has a barely detectable 0.77% potassium radioactivity measured by the GRapi (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units). It consists mostly of oxygen (38.22%), silicon (25.97%) and calcium (15.44%), but otherwise contains potassium (9.04%) - which gives its radioactive attributes - fluorine (5.86%) and sodium (5.31%).[2] Parting is parallel to . Hackly fracture only applies on the b axis, among a and c axis the fracture is stepped.[3]
Fluorcanasite is a type locality at Mount Kukisvumchorr, Russia. It is associated with pectolite, microcline, nepheline, villiaumite, scherbakovite, rasvumite, lamprophyllite, mosandrite, molybdenite and aegirine.