Emeleusite: A New LiNaFeIII Silicate from South Greenland

B. G. J. Upton, P. G. Hill, O. Johnsen* and O. V. Petersen*
Department of Geology, Edinburgh EH9 3JW
* Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen, DK-1350 Copenhagen K

Summary: Emeleusite (Li2Na4Fe2IIISi12O30) is an orthorhombic (pseudohexagonal) mineral occurring as euhedra within a facies of a peralkaline trachyte dyke. The composition is: SiO2 70·75; TiO2 0·55; ZrO2 0·10; Al2O3 1·34; Fe2O3 12·13; MgO 0·10; MnO 0·03; Na2O 11·98; Li2O 2·78:99·76. The density is 2·775 g/cm3 (calculated) and 2·76(7) g/cm3 (determined); hardness 5–6. It is colourless, transparent, and has a glassy lustre. Emeleusite is biaxial negative with 2Va, varying from near-zero to c. 30° r » v. The refractive indices are α 1·596; β 1·597; y 1·597; with αb; βa; yc. Emeleusite can occur as interpenetration triplets with {110} as twin planes. The space group is Acam or Aba2 with a = 10·073±0·002 Å; b = 17·350±0·005 Å and c = 14·010±0·005 Å. Z = 4. Prominent powder diffraction lines are 7·001(5) 002, 4·352(10) 220, 040, 3·501(7) 004, 3·209(8) 311, and 3·090(7) 124. While the structure is as yet unknown it is suggested that it is an orthorhombic associate of the milarite group.

Mineralogical Magazine; March 1978 v. 42; no. 321; p. 31-34; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1978.042.321.03
© 1978, The Mineralogical Society
Mineralogical Society (www.minersoc.org)