Specimen #877

Name: Synchysite on Albite

Type: Micromount

Locality: Mont Saint-Hilaire, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Favorite? N

Fluorescent? N

Size:

Weight:

Acquired: 2008-11-04

Source: Ian Heales Collection

Label: N

Comment: Synchysite is one of a few rare earth carbonate minerals. Synchysite has cerium, neodymium, lanthanum and yttrium in its generalized formula but officially the mineral is divided into three minerals based on the respective predominant rare earth element. As mineral specimens, synchysite has a wonderful crystal habit, nice luster and interesting color. Although usually the crystals are small and make excellent micromount specimens, they are generally well developed especially in specimens from Mont Saint-Hilaire. Their typical crystal habit is pseudohexagonal prisms that taper to a point or are bluntly terminated by a flat pinacoid face. The tendancy to thin and then widen repeatedly within the same crystal often yields a crystal shape that reminds one of an accordian.

Minerals: Albite (NaAlSi₃O₈) Synchysite-(Ce) (CaCe(CO₃)₂F)

There is one picture on file

M00877-01.jpg:

Synchysite on Albite, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Magnification: 10X, FOV: 13.5 x 9.0 mm