Mineralpedia Details for Gotzenite

Named after notable German traveler Count Adolph von Gotzen who climbed Mt. Shaheru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1894, which is where the type locality for the mineral is located. Gotzenite is a rare mineral that occurs in additional localities in Russia, Norway, Ukraine, Germany, and Canada. If is found at its type locality in nephilinite in the crater wall of an extinct volcano, and at its Canadian locality at Mont Saint-Hilaire in hornfels and marble xenoliths.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/gotzenite.pdf

Formula

NaCa₆Ti(Si₂O₇)₂OF₃ 

Crystal System

Triclinic 

Crystal Habit

Tabular, Prismatic, Acicular 

Cleavage

Perfect, Good 

Luster

Vitreous - Greasy 

Color

colorless, very pale yellow, tan, white 

Streak

white 

Class

Triclinic - Pinacoidal 

Fracture

Brittle 

Hardness

5.5-6 

WebMineral

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Mindat

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Glassy acicular crystals to 1mm in a 5mm area on Natrolite.