Eudialyte , Gittinsite , Vlasovite Locality: Kipawa alkaline complex, Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue, Témiscamingue RCM, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec, Canada Description: A 4.1 by 3.1 cms mass of pink Eudialite with whitish Gittinsite on the surface of two included Vlasovite crystals on the upper left. JSS specimen and photo. — Photo: John Sobolewski (JSS) · CC BY 3.0
Gittinsite
Gittinsite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula CaZrSi₂O₇.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2). It is a member of the Thortveitite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5–4; specific gravity 3.624; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Git, IMA status: approved, named in 1979.
Found in eudialyte-rich pegmatitic lenses in a regionally metamorphosed agpaitic syenite complex (Kipawa River, Canada); an alteration product of eudialyte in syenite, quartz syenite, and alkalic granite (Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico.
It is found associated with Apophyllite, vlasovite, eudialyte, fluorite, graphite, calcite, apatite, \opal" (Kipawa River, Canada); eudialyte, zircon, chlorite (Pajarito Mountain.
The name refers to Professor John Gittins, Canadian petrologist, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.