Emeleusite Locality: Illutalik Island, Narsaq, Kujalleq, Greenland. Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.8 x 1.1 cm. Emeleusite is a very rare complex lithium silicate, unique to this Greenland locality. Brown microcrystals richly cover the front of the thumbnail matrix. Rarely available. Ex. University of Copenhagen, Columbia University-American Museum of Natural History and Eugene Carmichael Collections. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Emeleusite
Emeleusite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Na₂LiFe³⁺Si₆O₁₅.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Acam).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–6; specific gravity 2.76; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Eme, IMA status: approved, named in 1977.
A minor constituent of a peralkalic trachyte dike, in flow-banded aegirine-albite-rich layers.
It is found associated with Albite, aegirine, quartz, riebeckite, micas, zircon, pectolite, apatite, calcite, titanian narsarsukite, zincian nordite, thorite, opaque oxides.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Charles Henry Emeleus, University of Durham, Durham, England.