Manganoneptunite, catapleiite, aegirine : Poudrette Quarry (De-Mix Quarry ; Demix Quarry ; Uni-Mix Quarry ; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire ; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilai — Photo: Géry PARENT · CC BY-SA 4.0
Catapleiite
A sodium-zirconium silicate hydrate rarely found alone — its name means 'with more' because it tags along with rarer minerals.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Catapleiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Na₂Zr(Si₃O₉)·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group B2/b). It is a member of the Catapleiite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 6; specific gravity 2.65–2.9; typically yellow or brown or colorless; White to pale yellow streak; Weakly vitreous or dull luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Ctp, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1850.
Found in syenites and nepheline syenites; in pegmatites, typically the result of metasomatic alteration of eudialyte.
It is found associated with Zircon, leucophanite, rinkite, eudialyte, epididymite, lº avenite, astrophyllite, sodalite, natrolite, analcime, aegirine.
Its name comes from the Greek kata, for with, and pleios, for many, because it is always accompanied by other rare minerals.
Collections: Collector Favorites, Rare & Remarkable.