Mineralpedia Details for Epistolite
Epistolite
Named after the Greek word epistoli, meaning letter, presumably meaning a written letter on paper, in reference to the minerals flat and rectangular crystal habit and white color. Epistolite can be found at a number of localities in only three countries which include, Greenland in the Ilimaussau intrustion, from the Lovozero Massif in Russia, and from Mont Saint-Hilaire and Saint-Amable in Canada. Epistolite can be found in alkalic pegmatites, albitites, sodalite, and hydrothermal veins.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/epistolite.pdf
- Formula
- Na4TiNb2(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2ยท4H2O
- Crystal System
- Triclinic
- Crystal Habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Distinct, None
- Luster
- Pearly
- Color
- white, yellowish white, gray, light brown
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Triclinic - Pinacoidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 1-1.5
- WebMineral
- View Epistolite
- Mindat
- View Epistolite
Epistolite from Tugtup Agtakorfia, Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa prov., Greenland
Pinkish thin tabular crystals to 3mm suspended in matrix.
Click thumbnail images for larger view.
Epistolite from Kedykverpakhk Mt., Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Pearly white plates to 8mm across.
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