Canasite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Canasite is named for its composition: calcium (Ca), sodium (Na) and silicon (Si) - Ca-Na-Si-te. The picture at left shows yellow Canasite associated with purple Charoite, orange Tinaksite and black Aegirine.

Discovered in 1959;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Na₄K₂Ca₅Si₁₂O₃₀(OH)₃F

Sodium Potasium Calcium Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride

Molecular Weight:

1,257.57 gm

Composition:

Potassium

6.22 %

K

7.49 %

K₂O

Sodium

7.31 %

Na

9.86 %

Na₂O

Calcium

15.93 %

Ca

22.30 %

CaO

Silicon

26.80 %

Si

57.33 %

SiO₂

Hydrogen

0.24 %

H

2.15 %

H₂O

Oxygen

41.98 %

O

Fluorine

1.51 %

F

1.51 %

F

—

— %

F

—0.64 %

—O=F₂

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.35-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DG.80

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains

Related to:

None

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

None

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As crystals, to 10 cm; in platy aggregates, to 20 cm; also granular.

Twinning:

Polysynthetic, the twinning plane at an angle of 8° to the less perfect cleavage.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

One, Very Perfect; another, Perfect, at 118° to the first.

Fracture:

Splintery, breaks into long acute-angled or wedge-shaped pieces.

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.0

Density:

2.707 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Barely Detectable; GRapi = 89.32 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Optical Properties

Color:

Brownish Yellow, Green Yellow, Light Green

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.534 - 1.543  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0090

Dispersion:

Weak; r > v

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif (Khibiny massif, Russia); in charoitic rocks (Murun massif, Russia).

Common Associations:

Fenaksite, Lamprophyllite, Titanite, Eudialyte, Nepheline, Pyroxene, Orthoclase (Khibiny massif, Russia); Tinaksite, Miserite, Charoite (Murun massif, Russia).

Common Impurities:

None

Type Locality:

Material'naya Adit, Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

IMA approved 1959

View mineral photos:

Canasite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Canasite is a relatively rare mineral that is commonly found as brownish yellow to yellowish green aggregates in Charoite. When contrasted against swirling purple Charoite it makes for beautiful cabochons. The picture above shows yellow Canasite associated with purple Charoite, orange Tinaksite and black Aegirine. Canasite is extremely rare as a faceted gem.

Canasite is found at only three localities in the world, and all three are in Russia; on Mts. Yukspor and Rasvumchorr, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, and in the Murun massif, southwest of Olekminsk, Yakutia, Russia.
 

  
Tinaksite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Tinaksite gems yet. Please check back soon.