Carletonite - Encyclopedia

CARLETONITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Phyllosilicates
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F) H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Carletonite is an extremely rare complex silicate, whose structure is similar to that of apophyllite and also contains CO3 groups. It owes its name to the University of Carleton (Canada) where it was studied. It is a mineral known in enclaves metamorphosed into hornfels and marbles within a nepheline syenite of a gabbro-syenite complex. It is usually massive, but can produce prismatic crystals up to 6 cm. It is frequently zoned, pale blue to dark blue, sometimes colorless. It is an exceptionally cut mineral as a gemstone.

Main photo : Carletonite from Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec, Canada © Nadya Georgieva

Carletonite in the World

Carletonite is only known in Mont Saint-Hilaire (Canada), the largest crystals measure 6 cm.

Photo on the right : Carletonite from Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec, Canada © Luciana Barbosa

Carletonite in France

Carletonite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fake identified for this mineral species.


Hardness : 4 to 4.5
Density : 2.45
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.517 to 1.521
Birefringence : 0.004
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : Low
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None