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Vlasovite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Vlasovite

Chemistry:  Na2ZrSi4O11  []

Discovered in 1961;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved).
Vlasovite is named i
n honor of the Russian mineralogist and geochemist Kuzma Alekseevich Vlasov (1905-1964), founder of the Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, Russia.

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.34-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DM.25

 

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
M : Inosilicates with 6-periodic single chains

Related to:

Grumantite - Penkvilksite Series

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As crystals, to 15 cm; more commonly as subrounded to irregularly shaped grains and aggregates of such grains.

Twinning:

Twin plane [010], uncommon.

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

[1011] Distinct/Good

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven to Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

6.0

Density:

2.92 - 2.97 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

Altered portions fluoresce brownish yellow under SW UV.

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

May invert to triclinic symmetry below 29 ąC.

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Colorless, Pink, pale Yellow, pale Brown, Silvery

Transparency:

Transparent

Luster:

Greasy; highly Vitreous to Pearly on cleavage surfaces

Refractive Index:

1.605 - 1.628  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0210

Dispersion:

Distinct; r > v

Pleochroism:

Colorless

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

A late phase in nepheline syenites, syenitic pegmatites, and along the contact zone of a differentiated alkalic massif (Lovozero massif, Russia); in miarolitic cavities in ejected blocks of peralkalic granite (Ascension Island).

Common Associations:

Aegirine, Aenigmatite, Albite, Apatite, Arfvedsonite, Eudialyte, Fayalite, Fluorite, Lorenzenite, Magnesio-Katophorite, Microcline, Pyrochlore,

Type Locality:

Vavnbed Mt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1961

View mineral photos:

Vlasovite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 


Vlasovite is an extremely rare gem that was first discovered in 1961 at the Kola Peninsula, Russia and later found at the Kipawa alkaline complex next to Sheffield Lake, Temiscamingue County, Quebec, Canada. It is usually associated with Eudialyte. A very small amount of facet grade crystals were found at the Kipawa location in 1987. Gems are usually very small and slightly to moderately included.

The main sources of gemmy crystals are Mt. Vavnbed, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia (Type Locality); fine crystals from the Shefield Lake complex, Kipawa River, Villedieu Township, Quebec, Canada.
 

  
Vlasovite gems for sale:

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